THE Strong Man Armed not Cast Out, BUT Removed to a Stronger Hold: VIZ. FROM PROFANENESS to HYPOCRISY. OR, An Answer to a Book, Entitled, The Strong Man Armed Cast Out, and his Goods spoilt; Or, The Poor Man sitting at Jesus' Feet, Clothed, and in his Right Mind. Written by James Jackson, formerly a Parish Priest, and afterwards a Teacher among the Independents: And now Walking with the People called Quakers, as he Testifieth of himself. In which Answer is plainly Discovered the Ignorance and Darkness, the Delusions, and False Apprehensions of this James Jackson, Concerning himself, and the Churches, and Assemblies which he Disowns, and Separates from. And also the Erroneous Interpretations and Applications of the Scriptures, which he mentions in his Book. Herein are also Discovered several Characters, plain Marks of those False Teachers that the Spirit speaketh expressly should come into the World in these last days. Written for the Vindication of the Truths of the Gospel, the Stablishing of those who are in the Truth, and the Reducing of those who have Erred from it: And in all for the Exaltation of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. By R.a. Austen. 1 John 3.1. Try the Spirits, whether they are of God, for many false Prophets are gone out into the World. Isa. 8.20. To the Law, and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no Light in them. Jer. 8.9. Lo, they have Rejected the Word of the Lord, and what Wisdom is in them? London, Printed for Peter Parker, at the Leg and Star over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. 1676. The Epistle to the READER. IT is certain that these are the Last Times; and that many False Prophets are gone out into the World; Deceitful workers, Ministers of Antichrist, transforming themselves into the Ministers of Christ: It is time therefore, and our Necessary Duty, to try the Spirits whether they are of God: and verily here is one as dangerous a Person, with as subtle, insinuating Doctrine, as I ever yet met with. When I had Read his Book, and Observed how he Exalteth and Magnifieth himself, and those of his way, as the only Holy People in the World; and Separateth from all the Godly, their Societies, and assemblies, of all persuasions, without Exception: and not only so, but also vilifieth them, Ranking them with the wicked and unregenerate world, and how he asserteth and maintaineth a false Principle, That the true Light (meaning Christ) is in every Man and Woman; and is sufficient, being believed in, and Obeyed, to bring them to Salvation: and that whosoever will not Receive, and own this Doctrine, are accounted by him Enemies to Christ. When I considered these things, with many other Lies in Hypocrisy and Blasphemies, mentioned in his Book, my Spirit was vehemently moved within me, and I said in myself, Shall this uncircumcised Philistine thus come forth, and Challenge, and Defy the Hosts and Armies The Light within shall be in Hell for ever. p. 31. The Quakers draw people to Idolatry. ibid. The Quakers are under spiritual Judgements. p. 32. The Quakers Perfection in sin. p. 34. The Quakers imperfection in grace. 35. 1 In knowledge. ibid. 2 In Faith and Hope. 36. 3 In Love. ibid. Paul preacheth Christ, and not the Light in every man and woman. p. 38. The Devils fundamental doctrine. p. 39 Obstinate Quakers to be rejected. p. 41. The Quakers sin is like the great sin of the hardened Jews. p. 42. Advice to the hearers among the Quakers. p. 44. The Quakers great Idol near falling. p. 45. Ten Arguments proving the Light within is not Christ. p. 46. The Quakers Humility. p. 56. The Quakers Unity. ibid. The true Unity, of the true Church. 59 1. One Body. ib. 2. One Spirit. ib. 3. One Hope. 60. 4. One Lord. ib. 5. One Faith. ib. 6. One Baptism. ib. 7. One God. ibid. The Quakers Patience. p. 62. A false persuasion of Conversion. p. 63. The Light within converts none to the Lord. p. 65. Natural Light, is Spiritual Darkness. p. 67. This Scripture Joh. 1.9. grossly mistaken. p. 68 The Quakers Doctrine is directly-contrary to the Scriptures. p. 70 Conscience is a natural light. 72. Christ, the true Light, is really in believers, and in none else. ib. The Scriptures are the word of God. p. 74. The Scriptures are Gods Love letters to mankind. p. 77. Characters of false Prophets whereby they are known. p. 78. 1. Departing from the Faith. p. 79. 2. Character: Giving heed to seducing Spirits, and Doctrines of Devils. p. 80. 1. Against Christ. ib. 2. Against the Scriptures: ibid. 3. Against the Church: 81.4. Resting upon their own Righteousness: ib. The third Character of false Prophets: Lies in Hypocrisy p. 82. The first Lie in Hypocrisy p. 83 The second Lie in Hypocrisy ib. The third Lie in Hypocrisy p. 84. The fourth Lie in Hypocrisy ib. The fifth Lie in Hypocrisy p. 86. The sixth Lie in Hypocrisy p. 88 The Quakers Railing accusations p. 89. The fourth Character of false Teachers: their Consciences are seared with an hot Iron p. 91. The fifth Character of false Teachers: denying the Lord that bought us p. 92. The Apostle Peter, and Judas, both agree in the same. Characters of false Teachers p. 93. Enoch Prophesied of these ungodly men p. 100 The Quakers have spoken many hard speeches against Christ. ibid. The Quakers separation from Christ and his people proves they are no Christians. p. 101. A Lying Spirit is gone forth among the Quakers, which seduceth them. p. 105. Births of the Spirit, and of the Flesh. p. 106. Spiritual sins are greater than fleshly sins. p. 108. The false Opinions of the Quakers spring from Pride and Ignorance. p. 109. The Quakers deceive weak and simple minds. p. 110. The Quakers shall not long continue to deceive. p. 113. Good Counsel to the Quakers. p. 115. Leave the Quakers Meetings p. 116. Come to the Assemblies of the Saints. p. 117. THE Strong Man Armed not Cast out, BUT Removed to a stronger Hold: VIZ. From PROFANENESS TO HYPOCRISY. WHen Man at his first Creation came out of the Hand of God, he was then a Holy, and a Righteous Creature: But we all know (to our sorrow) he lost that Holy state; and now, and since then, he is by Nature a Child of Wrath, and an Enemy to God, in his mind afar off from him, and most unlike unto him: So that there is no Recovering that Holy, and Happy Estate again, to have Fellowship and Communion with God, but by Regeneration and Conversion; from this Carnal state, to a New Spiritual state; by true Repentance and Faith in Christ, wrought by the Mighty Power of the Spirit of God, in those whom he (according to his determinate Counsel and foreknowledge) calleth in due time unto himself; in whom he (by degrees) destroys the works of the Devil, the Image of the first Adam, and Creates; and works, the Image or Nature of the Second Adam Jesus Christ, in Righteousness, and true Holiness; or as it is in some other Expressions in Scripture, he casteth out the strong Man Armed, that keepeth the House, and Divideth the Spoils, when this stronger than he cometh, he turns out this first strong Man (though Armed, and in his strong Hold of every Faculty of the Soul) and Enters himself, and takes Possession of the Soul, and turns all to his own Use and Interest, even for his own Glory; the Exaltation of his Freegrace, and that for ever. Now, here comes this great Question to be Debated and Determined, The Author of the Strong Man Armed, Tried. Concerning the Person here mentioned, James Jackson, Author of the Book Entitled, The Strong Man Armed cast out, (which also Comprehends and includes all others of his Mind, with whom he hath now joined himself.) He is strongly persuaded (it appears) That the strong Man, the Devil, with all his wares and works, is cast out, and that Christ is entered, and dwells in his stead. He tells us in his Epistle to his Friends and Relations, what an , Dissolute, Debauched, and Extravagant Course of Life the had Lived, against all Counsels, Admonitions, Reproofs, Vows, Promises, and Engagements, breaking all these as so many Bonds and Fetters (alluding to the poor Man that was possessed with Devils, and Bound with Chains and Fetters, and broke all in pieces, and no Man could tame him.) So did he, to the grief and wounding of his dear Friends. But the Lord working mightily, and Revealing his Son in him, (he saith;) and making a wonderful and great Change, he would not eat his Morsels alone, but thought it his Duty to Communicate these things to his Friends and Relations, and to tell them what great things God hath done for him, and hath had Compassion on him, in turning him from Darkness into his Marvellous Light, and from the Power of Satan, into the Kingdom of his dear Son. So that now our work is to bring him and his works to be Weighed in the Balance of the Sanctuary, and to try them by the true Touchstone, whether they be true Metal or Counterfeit; for many Foolish Builders Build upon the Sand, and not upon the Rock: Yea, and some that Build upon the firmer Foundation, yet they Build much Wood, Hay, and Stubble, instead of Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones, 1 Cor. 3.13. but every Man's work shall be made Manifest, for the Day shall Declare it, because it shall be Revealed by Fire; And the Fire shall Try every Man's work of what sort it is. Now, this Fire is the Spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures; if Men speak according to his Mind and Will, than it is the Truth; but if they speak, or Act otherwise, than it is not according to Truth, but is from a False Spirit: That is, either from the Devil (the Spirit that worketh in the Children of Disobedience) or from a Man's own Spirit, or from both. Therefore, that we may know which to follow, when Men Differ and Contend about things, this is the sure and only way, (according to the Apostles Counsel) to try the Spirits, whether they are of God, or not, 1 John 3. But it may readily be asked, how shall we know the Spirits, which is which; which is the true Spirit, and which the false, when they speak in men different things, who disagree in their Say and Apprehensions? I Answer; That the Spirit of God speaking in any Man, How to know the true Spirit from the false Spirit. or if any Man speak by the Spirit of God, he speaketh according to what he hath already spoken, and not contrary: That is, according to what he hath already spoken in the Scriptures, by those Holy Men of God that wrote the Scriptures, and were Inspired by the holy ghost; and if any man speak contrary to what the Spirit of God hath already spoken, and Revealed in the Scriptures, he is a Liar, and speaketh from a false Deluding Spirit, and not by the Spirit of God. The Apostle Paul tells us plainly, 1 Cor. 2.13. We speak things which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual. Paul had the Spirit of God, and spoke and taught by the Spirit of God. But if a Natural Man (one that hath not the spirit of Christ in him) doth go about to compare spiritual things with spiritual things, he is sure to mistake, and speak Erroneously; For the Natural Man (as he there saith) perceiveth not the things that are of God, neither can he know, or perceive them, because they are spiritually Discerned: That is, they are seen in the Light, and by the Discovery of the Spirit of Christ, the true Light, and not otherwise. So that this being laid down as a Ground and Foundation, an Infallible truth, as it is; we may then proceed to the Examination and Trial of the Spirits and Doctrines of Men; for no Man speaking by the spirit of God, will, or can speak contrary to the Scriptures; if he do, let it be Rejected: Paul saith, If any Man Preach any other Gospel than that which we have Preached unto you, let him be accursed; yea, if an Angel from Heaven bring any other Gospel than that ye have Received, (and is written in the Scriptures) let him be Accursed. He saith, not only let him or them be Disowned, and Rejected, but let him be Accursed: so Zealous was he, and so should we be to hold fast, and maintain the Doctrine of the Gospel, the Scriptures, given out by God himself, spoken and written by the Men of God, in their Day, and Generation, by the immediate Dictates, Teachings, and Move of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God, so that (as was said) whatever Spirit it be (in whomsoever) that speaketh contrary, or not according to the Scriptures, is to be disowned, and rejected, as false and erroneous. Now therefore, here comes in the Trial of Particulars; the several Doctrines, Opinions, and Practices of Men, of any persuasions whatsoever: Either they speak according to the Spirit of God in them, or from some other Spirit; if they speak from the spirit of God in them, than it must needs be according to what he hath already spoken, (as was said) for he is one and the same Spirit, and changeth not: But if it be otherwise, than it may be said, as Paul said of some in his Time, This Persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you, Gal. 5.8. it cometh not from the Spirit of God, but from a false and Deluding Spirit. And here now is thy Trial and thy Judgement, James Jackson, Author of the strong Man Armed cast out; and all that are of thy Mind and Way; who speak contrary to what the Holy Ghost hath spoken already in the Scriptures, as is hereafter showed in several particulars. First, 1. Strong Man Armed, p. 3. That Spirit in thee Declares to all People, That thou art now Converted, and turned from Darkness to Light, and from the power of Satan unto God; that thou art changed from a wicked Profane course of Life, unto a Holy Life, walking with a Holy People, and that thou hast left off to be a Parish Priest; yea, and after that, hast left off from being a Teacher among the Independents, and hast disowned, and forsaken the Congregations and Assemblies of the Independents; and art now come and joined with the People called Quakers. And thou tellest us, That these are the only Holy People of God upon Earth; and that all other Churches, Assemblies, and Congregations (Naming the Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, and others) are out of the way; and that though they differ in Forms or Persuasions, yet they agree in the same Faith, Foundation, and Root. Answ. For Answer hereunto briefly; I shall not speak to Reproach thee, or rail upon thee, or any of thy way, as thou hast done against many of the Precious Saints in the Churches of Christ, saying of the Independents (whose Assemblies thou hast forsaken) That there was sufficient ground for thee to separate from the Tents of those ungodly Men, Strong Man Armed, p. 8. their Teachers, who are no better than Filthy Dreamers, Blind Guides, and Belly-gods, which belch out nothing but Lies, Slanders, Blasphemies, and evil speeches against Christ, his Ways, Truths, and People; and this (thou sayest) thou seest, and declarest against them in the Light. I say, I will not bring against thee Railing Accusations, as thou dost against others; but the Lord Rebuke thee, and that Lying Spirit in thee, and Convince thy Spirit of the Truth. Concerning thy leaving off to continue a Parish Priest, thou didst well; but thou hadst done better if thou hadst never undertaken it; for there are too many such Priests, like the Priests of Old, the Sons of Eli; who (by reason of their wickedness) made the Sacrifices of the Lord to be Abhorred: There are many in these Days of the same Tribe, who make the Gospel of Christ, his Ways, Truths, and People to be evil spoken of; yea, they make the Name of Christ to be Blasphemed, and his People Reproached, even through them, and by their means: And making others, who are the true and Faithful Ministers and Ambassadors of Christ to be evil spoken of, Reviled, and Disowned for their sakes, and because of them; yea, more, They Occasion Separations in all parts of the Land. Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and run greedily after the Error of Balaam for a Reward, and get into the Priest's Office, that they may eat a piece of Bread, that they may get a Living by it: Many of them more sit for the Cart, or the Plough, than the Pulpit, having neither Gifts of Nature, nor of Grace fit for the Ministry. Men that never learned Christ, were never taught of God, and how then can they Teach others? Nay, instead of Instructing others in the ways of Life and Salvation, they by their wicked Examples draw them down to Hell, they are the worst of Men upon Earth. I have Indignation against such, and am greatly grieved for the Misery of those poor Ignorant Souls of their Parishes, who are like to perish for lack of Knowledge; the Blind leading the Blind, both will fall into the Ditch: The Lord Remove them, or Reform them, and give Pastors after his own heart, according to his Promise. And for this I Commend thee, James Jackson, that thou didst leave off thy Profaneness, and also deceiving the People as a Parish Priest. But now take heed, The Strong Hold of Hypocrisy is stronger than that of Profaneness. lest thou art not yet deceived, in the state and condition thou art now in, lest the false spirit be not too subtle for thee; lest Satan (that strong Man Armed) having quit one strong hold, be not got into another that is stronger than the former; for certain it is, the Devil's power and policy in a way of Gross wickedness and profaneness, is not half so strong a hold as the strong hold of Hypocrisy: Where Reason, Natural Conscience, all outward Occurrences, Moral, Civilised Persons, all can readily Reprove, and help to draw a Man out of such an Estate; but the strong hold of Hypocrisy, and Erroneous persuasions and Practices, in a way of Religion, is more Dangerous, and a stronger Hold; where nothing but the spirit of God, and an enlightened Understanding to discern the Truth of the word of the Gospel, can Instruct a Man, especially when a Man hath passed through many, or divers States, Forms, Opinions, and persuasions, and at last hath pitched upon one that he Judges and Concludes doth Exceed all the former; if yet this be false, and he know it not, he is then in greater Danger than ever, seeing his own Natural Reason, and his Ignorant dim-sighted Conscience, confirmed by the strong delusions of Satan, (that spirit that worketh, and Ruleth in the Children of Disobedience, do all concur and join together, and hold the poor soul in Bondage under Darkness, which is by many taken for the true Light of Christ. I say, Take heed of being deceived in these things, thou and thy Friends; for I say, the strong hold of the Devil, in a way of Profaneness, is not so strong as his strong hold in a way of Hypocrisy, or false Worship; this is Evident both by Scripture and Experience. Christ told the Pharisees, who were Zealous in a way of Hypocrisy: That Publicans and Harlot's, (great and gross sinners, in a way of Profaneness,) should enter into the Kingdom of Heaven before them, Mat. 21.31. And that I may show my true Love to your souls (whether you will Accept it or no) I will Endeavour to show unto thee and them, things in a clearer Light than yet shines in you. Thou sayest, the strong Man Armed (the Devil) is cast out of thee, and Christ a stronger than he, is come in, and now keeps the House: How is this made manifest? Thy saying so does not prove it, but thy Say, and thy Do prove the contrary; and this I shall make good, both by positive Scripture, and by Example. If any Man be in Christ, The New Creature doth Evidence itself where it is. he is a New Creature, 2 Cor. 5.17. He that is Converted, and changed from the state of Nature, to the state of Grace, out of whom Satan is cast, and Christ come in; he is New in his Understanding, Will, Affections; yea, New in his whole Life and Conversation: But now it appears plainly, that thy Understanding is still Old, the same Ignorance, Blindness, Darkness remains upon it, as is in all Natural Men; and this is seen, and manifest by thy false Interpretations of Scriptures; and Secondly, by thy false applications of them, in Applying those Scriptures to the Saints, true Believers, Members of Christ, as do belong only to the unregenerate World; such as are yet in the state of Nature; neither art thou changed in thy Will and Affections, they are not yet New, but according to the Old Nature in all unregenerate Persons, as plainly appears in that thou showest forth no true Love to the Lords precious People, Members of the Body of Christ; but contrariwise, disownest them, and separatest from them; nay more, thou dost Revile them, and falsely speak evil of them, as is plainly seen in many passages of thy Book: And as for thy Love and affections towards Christ, it is Love but only in Tongue, in Word, and Profession only, not in Truth. Thou professest that thou Knowest, and Lovest him, but indeed thou deniest him, in denying of his People, and disowning of them, for he hath said, He that Despiseth you, Despiseth me; nay more, Thou, and those of thy way, Deny and dishonour Christ, in that ye set up his Creature, and Adore it, and Worship it, for Christ, and call it Christ in you; and so make the Creator and the Creature all one. Now, seeing thou art an Old Creature still, both in thy inner Man and outward Man in thy Conversation: How canst thou think thou art changed, or that the Strong Man Armed is cast out, but rather that he is Removed to a stronger hold. Nay, Paul's Example a Looking-Glass. further; Let us try by another Touchstone, whether thou art true Gold or no: Paul, we know, was once in a Carnal state, in a state of Nature, in Darkness; but was Called, and Converted: And we see, he shows forth, and manifests to all, that his state was changed; for he soon after, prayed earnestly to God, and he Preached the Gospel, he stood up Zealously to Preach that Jesus, which lately before he persecuted in his Members: He Banished them, and Imprisoned them, and did many mischiefs to them; yea, and thought verily he did well, and that he ought to do many things against Jesus of Nazareth; and this was from the Light within, which thou and thy Friends say, is in every Man and Woman, and which ye adore for God and Christ: But when he was Converted, this Light was known to be but Darkness, by the true Light, Jesus Christ, when he shined into his soul; when this Sun of Righteousness arose, it scattered his Darkness. Now, Compare thy Change and Conversion (as thou callest it) with Paul's Conversion, for his was true, and see how like thine looks to his, or how unlike it; and thereby thou and others may gain Instruction. Thou and others may plainly see how much thou art Deceived, in that thou thinkest, and sayest, The strong Man armed is cast out of thee. Do but look thyself in this glass of the Example of Paul, and thou wilt see thyself like him, as he was before his Conversion, as like him as one Man can be like another: But if thou lookest thyself in the Example of Paul after his Conversion, than thou art no more like him, than an Ape is like a Man; perhaps, some dark shadows, and simple Resemblances, some seeming likeness, but nothing of Truth or Reality, in any Spiritual Respects. Paul before his Conversion Raged against the Saints, and was very bitter against them; but afterwards when he was enlightened and Converted, he joins himself to them, is one with them, and counts it a great and precious Privilege so to be: He Preached to them that Jesus whom before he knew not; but Persecuted him, yea, he is tender of them, and Nourisheth them, and Cherisheth them, as a Nurse Cherisheth her Children. Now, consider with thyself, James Jackson; dost thou do so? dost thou show forth these clear Evidences of Conversion and a New state, as Paul did? if so, than thou hast good grounds to believe that the strong Man is indeed cast out; if thou say it is so, then tell me, what meaneth this Bleating of the Sheep, and Lowing of the Oxen which I hear? What meaneth thy loud outcries, and Clamours against the Lord's People; thy Railing Accusations against all the Churches and Congregations that are not just of thy Mind? Is this Cherishing them as a Nurse cherisheth her Children, as Paul did? Paul Fed the Young ones, and the Weak with Milk, and tenderly dealt with them, until they were able to Digest stronger Meat. Thou regardest not the Weak, nor the Young, no, nor the Strong, but Criest them down all, as Deceived Persons, in Darkness, in Babylon, as Paul did before his Conversion: So this proves thee to be like him before hís Change; and consequently, that the strong Man armed is not yet cast out of thee, but removed to a stronger hold. If thou say, Nay, but I Own, and Love, and Cherish the Holy People of the Lord, unto whom I am now joined, which is a good Evidence of my Conversion and Change. It is Answered; That if it were supposed, and granted, that those People with whom thou walkest, were indeed the People of the Lord, (as I hope many of them are, who know not their false Doctrines, for I will not be severe, as the manner of some is, to Condemn all, for the Errors of some amongst them) yet art thou far short of Paul's Spirit, who owned all the Saints, though under Different Forms: To the Jews, he became as a Jew; to the Greeks, as they; to those under the Law, as under the Law; to those without Law, as without Law; he became all things to all, in such Indifferent, Un-commanded things as Forms are, that so he might gain them to Christ. But thou cleavest to a few, and many of them under strong Delusions, and there thou helpest to strengthen their Deceived Minds in Errors; Deceiving, and being Deceived: Why art thou not a Follower of Paul herein, as he beseeches all to be; as he is a Follower of Christ? Now, Christ Owns, Loves, and Accepts all his People, under all Forms, being United to him, as Members of his Body; Worshipping of him in Spirit and in Truth: So the Apostle tells us, In every Nation (though they are not one in their Forms, there being several in this Nation) he that feareth God, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with him. Now, how are we Followers of Christ, or of Paul, herein, if they are not Accepted of us also? The Apostle Paul was Exercised with such proud, Proud Professors in Paul's Time Reproved. self-conceited, troublesome persons in his time, as are now in ours; and he deals with them, and Reproves them, even for this very thing that I am now speaking of, that is, Highly esteeming of themselves, and Despising others; as we see, 2 Cor. 10.7. some High, Proud Persons, that Commended themselves, and valued themselves above Paul, and those that were of his Assemblies, they thought that they themselves were the only people of the Lord; but as for Paul and his Followers, they had no such persuasion of them; But the Apostle Reproves them, and tells them they have as good grounds and Reason to think as well of him, and those with him, as of themselves, 1 Cor. 10.7. If any Man think that he is Christ's, let him think this again, that as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's; let them have as good an Opinion of us, as they have of themselves, for they have as good grounds for it. But (saith he) they are a People that look upon some things in Themselves, but take no Notice of any good in Us; and so they Measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves among themselves, and in so doing they are not wise, v. 8. Howsoever we know our Measure, and our Time, our Gifts and Graces that God hath gìven us; and although they think highly of themselves, and but Meanly of us; yet we know, that not he that commendeth himself, is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth, as v. 18. Is it not so in our Days? are there not a People among us, who have high esteem of themselves, and that think of themselves more highly than they ought to think, that account themselves the only Holy People of the Lord, and all others to be of the World; and cast off, and disown, and separate from all other Societies, Communities, Congregations, and Churches of the Saints, and people of God, in all the World, and Measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are thereby grossly mistaken, and misled; they Commend and Applaud themselves above all other People, as being in the right and true way, and all others out of it; but not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth, and approveth, he shall stand, and be accepted. v. 18. Now, let us consider the ground and cause of all this; Apostasy from the Faith; what it is. whence is it that many have such high thoughts of themselves, and Despise others better than themselves: The Apostle tells us, and the Spirit hath spoken it expressly, and plainly, that in the last days (which are these we now Live in) Men shall departed from the Faith, that is, from Faith in the Doctrine of the Gospel (not from Justifying Faith) and shall give heed to Seducing Spirits, and Doctrines of Devils; they having once departed from the Doctrine and Truths of the Gospel, they shall then give heed to Seducing Spirits, and Doctrines of Devils; they shall slight, and make light of the Scriptures, and then shall give heed to seducing spirits, a spirit within them, yea, many spirits are watchful to insinuate into such a mind, as take no heed to the Scriptures; for in such a Frame of Mind what should direct them; what Touchstone or Rule of Trial can they have (when the Scriptures are laid aside) of what spirit speaks in them? In such a case Men often think it is the spirit of God, when it is but a seducing spirit, who hath Transformed himself into an Angel of Light; and resembles the spirit of God, under the pretence of Holiness and Truth: In some things that are like Truth, it Resembles it, but is not so: And hereby their Weak and Dark Minds are miss and deceived: For the Devil does often in many things, speak the very Truth, but it is with an intent to deceive in other things that are of greater Moment and Consequence; like cunning, deceitful Tradesmen, who bring forth, and show some good and right Commodities, that so amongst these they may put off their counterfeit Wares the better, and with less suspicion. Now, The Spirit within known by the Scriptures. know this; That men shall not be able to know the false seducing spirit from the true, but by the Fruits and effects of it, and by trying it by the spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures; and by these it may be known, and not otherwise. And hence it is, That many in our Days finding and feeling strong impressions and impulses in their minds, and not Examining of them, and trying of them by the spirit speaking in the Scriptures, do err grossly, and are misled by them, both in Doctrine and Practice: They give heed to, and are carried away with the present Impression, moving in their minds, looking upon it immediately, by, and in itself, as Christ the true Light, speaking in them, when ofttimes it is a seducing spirit. Quest. But if it be asked, How then shall we certainly know the Impressions of the seducing spirit in our minds, and the Impressions of the Spirit of God? Answ. The spirit of God, which is given to them that Believe, Instructeth them how to know its own Operations. First, by Comparing these immediate Impressions in the Mind, with what is already written in the Scriptures, dictated by the same spirit, concerning the same things now in the Mind or Judgement; therefore we ought to compare them together, and Examine whether they agree, and are one and the same: if the Impressions of the Spirit in the mind be contrary to the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures, we may then be sure it is a false and a seducing spirit; but if it be the same with the Spirit in the Scriptures, and confirmed thereby, than it is the true spirit. The Spirit of God gives (more especially to some of his People) the Gift of discerning of spirits: As we see, 2 Cor. 12. To another he gives the Discerning of Spirits: And it is by this means . And Secondly, Causes known by Effects. we may know the true spirit from the seducing spirit, by the Fruits and Effects of it; we may know Causes by the Effects, as in Nature, so also in Grace. And therefore when we are doubtful what Spirit it is that speaketh in us or others, let us try it by the Effects, the Fruits that it produceth; for every Tree is known by its own Fruits: The Effects and Fruits of the Spirit of God are such as the Scripture tells us of in many places, as in the 5th. Gal. The Fruits of the Spirit are Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Patience, Humility, Temperance, etc. Our Lord Christ, the Head, who was filled and Anointed with this Spirit above his Fellows, what Effects did it work in his Humane Nature, as our Mediator, he tells us, Mat. 11.28. he is Meek and Lowly in heart; and again, 2 Cor. 10.1. I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ: What wonderful Humility did he show forth in all his Life amongst us; and in that astonishing Example of Washing his Disciples Feet: And though he were a King, yea, the King of Kings, yet behold he came Meek and Lowly, Riding upon an Ass, and so tender of his Young Lambs, his Weak ones, that he carries them in his Bosom, and gently leads such as are Young and tender; he will not break the bruised Reed, nor quench the smoking Flax: Though Faith be but as a grain of Mustardseed, it shall be watered to grow up and increase to more strength. Now, the like Effects the same spirit works in his Members, (in every one in their Measures;) Paul fed his Newborn Babes with Milk, and not with Meat, because they were not able to bear it; and cherished them, as a Nurse cherisheth her Children, often weeping over them, Travelling from place to place to strengthen the New gathered Churches, Teaching, and Instructing them in those two great, and chief Doctrines, Faith in Christ, and Love to all the Saints. So the Apostle John, the same spirit brought forth the same Fruits and Effects in him, 1 John 1. I have no greater Joy, than to see my Children Walk in Truth. And Teacheth Love, Unity, Peace, Fellowship, and Communion with all the Saints; And so are all the Children of God thus inclined by the same spirit, they show forth the same Fruits and Effects, in their Degrees and Measures. But now on the contrary, consider, The false seducing spirit brings forth in its Followers the quite contrary Fruits and Effects, as we plainly see amongst Men: And hence are those high and proud Conceits and Apprehensions of themselves, their Ways, their Doctrines, as better, above, and beyond all others; being free from sin, and become perfect; saying in Effect, stand further from me, I am Holier than thou: Despising that Low, Childish Doctrine of sin abiding in us, in the remainders of it, whilst we Live, though the Power and Dominion of it be Destroyed. I say, these Fruits and Effects spring from a Cause like unto them, whereby we may safely conclude what the Cause is; so again, when we see Men Separating from others better than themselves, leaving, and forsaking other Assemblies and Congregations sound in Doctrine, and Holy in Life, and Conversation (excepting common, un-avoidable Infirmities) we may be sure hereby, that this is from a seducing spirit; not from the spirit of God (whose contrary Fruits and Effects we heard before.) As Solomon, The true Spirit is for Unity, the self Spirit for Division. by his Wisdom given him of God, plainly Discerned, and knew the true Mother from the false, by this very thing, by this clear Evidence: She that was for Unity, and for preserving together, and Nourishing the parts and Members of the Child, was the true Mother: But she that was for the Dividing of the Child, and separating the Members of it, he knew by that, she was the Harlot, and not the true Mother: Just so it is in this Case; The true spirit is for Unity, Love, Fellowship, and Communion with all the Members of Christ, as Occasion and Opportunity is, but the false seducing spirit is for separation, and Dividing the Members of Christ's Body, upon one pretence or another. And herein it is too manifest, that not only some in our Days are more grossly guilty; but also many of the true Members of Christ have been deceived, and carried away very far by this deluding and seducing spirit (through the remainders of Pride, and self-love in them) and have thought it their Duty to separate from others of their Brethren, upon slight, weak, and insufficient grounds and Causes; by which they have greatly Displeased, and Offended their Head, Jesus Christ, and wronged their fellow-Members: And as an Evidence of his Displeasure, and a just Correction upon them, he hath permitted a People in these days to separate from them all, and to disown them all; which I am persuaded is one End God hath in suffering these People to appear in this day; which as from God is a just Retaliation, to do to them, as they have done to others; the same Measure they have meeted to others of their Brethren, is now Measured to them again: Seeing no Rules in Scripture, nor Counsels, nor Entreaties of their Brethren would persuade, or win them to be of one mind, and to keep in Fellowship together; this now comes at last as the greatest and sharpest Reproof and Correction of all the former; I hope, and desire they will consider it, and Learn from it; to hear the voice of God's Rod, as well as of his Word, and be Instructed thereby. And now having Tried the Author of the strong Man armed cast out, and proved that the strong man is not cast out, but removed to a stronger Hold; let us proceed further, and make it appear also by divers other Proofs and Evidences, taken out of his own Book, (which also are sufficient to convince all others of his Mind and Way) that they may plainly see (if the God of this World hath not blinded their Minds, and hide plain and clear Truths from them) the false and unsound Foundations which they Build upon, as well as the Wood, Hay, and Stubble, which they Build withal, both as to their Opinions and Practices, in esteeming themselves the only Holy People of the Lord in this Day, and Despising, and Condemning those that are indeed the People of the Lord. First then; 1. The Quakers Attainments above others. This Author tells us, what he, and the People with whom he now Walks, have attained unto above all others from whom they separate. The People (the Quakers) he saith, Build upon a true and right Foundation, 1. In the Foundation. the Rock of Ages; Christ in us the hope of Glory; but all other Professing People in the World Build upon the Writings of Men, and all of them are strangers to that one Spirit, which gave forth the Scriptures. See strong Man Armed, etc. p. 12. In Answer to which, I say plainly; That if this were Truth which He hath spoken, I would separate also, and Build upon the same Foundation which he says they Build upon: But he hath herein spoken falsely, and that in a double Respect. 1. In Respect of themselves. 2. In Respect of other Professors, the Churches of Christ. As for themselves, such of them as Build upon the Foundation, the Light within every Man and Woman, and believe in it, and Obey it, and look for Salvation from it, as they Profess to do, such Build upon a false and unsound Foundation, and not upon Christ, the only true Foundation. Secondly, As for the other Professing People, from whom they Separate, he hath belied them also grossly, in saying, they Build not upon Christ, the true Foundation; for it is the chief and Fundamental Doctrine which they Preach, and Teach in all their Assemblies and Congregations, according to the Word and Gospel of Christ: And upon which we are sure many thousands have Built, by the Guidance, and Teaching, and Operations of the spirit of the Lord, and are by the same spirit joined, and United in a firm and everlasting bond and Union to Christ; whereby we have Light, Life, Virtue, Strength, Wisdom, and all Grace from this Root and Fountain, our precious Lord Jesus Christ. This Author proceeds further, 2. Strong Man Armed, p. 13. and tells us, That the Faith of the People called Quakers is the Faith of the Son of God, Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of it; it renews the whole Man. 2. The Quakers Faith. By this Faith sin is subdued, slain, and Mortified perfectly; the heart purified, the World conquered, the Soul Sanctified, Justified, and Saved perfectly: But the Faith of all others is an Unholy, Dead, Imperfect Faith; it Sanctifies but in part (as they say) and so will never save to the uttermost. Thus far he. Answ. Here is another double gross untruth, both as to themselves and others: If their Faith be the true Justifying, Saving Faith of God's Elect, than it would Evidence itself by the Fruits and Effects of Faith, which the Scriptures speak of, and all the Saints Experience in their Measure; as might be made evident in particulars: It would (as it does in all true Believers) purify the Heart, and work by Love; to God, to his People, to his Word and Ordinances, to all the things that are of God. But fine Words and Professions will not prove, or evidence true Faith. This Author does plainly manifest to a Spiritual Eye that that which he calls Faith in himself, (and in such as are like him) is but presumption, wrought by the great Deceiver, the seducing spirit, in weak, Ignorant, Proud Hearts and Minds; for it hath not purified their Hearts, neither doth it work by Love, but on the contrary; their Hearts are yet Dark, Blind, Ignorant of God, of themselves, of the Truths of God, of the People of God; they know not the Difference between Nature and Grace: They call Natural Conscience and Reason (which is in every Man and Woman by Nature) God, Christ, his Spirit, the true Light; which will Save and justify whosoever hearkens to it, and believes in it. I say, Faith hath not Purified their Hearts from this Blindness and Ignorance, nor from Pride, Self-love, and many other Corruptions, Manifest, and Evident in, and amongst them; as any gross sins or Abominations are in the Profanest Persons in the World. Neither does this Faith of theirs (which they boast of) work by Love; Love to God, Love to all his People, to the Law, and Word of God, as it did in David; O how I love thy Law! it is my Meditation continually, Psal. 119. but they Love not the Scriptures, neither are they led by the spirit speaking in them, but by a false spirit speaking in themselves, contrary to the spirit in the Scriptures. And as for their Love, it is but a self-love; it confines itself to their own party, that say as they say, and do even as they do, that are one with them in the same things; and in the Pride of their Hearts reject all others, though the most eminent Saints upon the Earth. How far then is this Faith of theirs (which they boast of, accounting it far better than all others) from purifying their Heart perfectly, as he there says; that hath not yet purified it from these gro●● and apparent Corruptions and sins; as Ignorant Pride in a high Degree, Self-love, Hatred, Despising, Disowning, Scandalising, and Separating from the Lords People of all persuasions, though Select Congregations, and Precious in the sight of the Lord, and dear as the Apple of his Eye: O the subtle, strong, seducing spirit is got into a strong Hold indeed, and Fortified himself therein, that can make them Speak, and Declare these Lies in Hypocrisy, and these Doctrines of Devils, as the Apostle calls them, 2 Tim. 3.1. Thirdly, This Author of the Strong Man Armed cast out goes on, 3. The Quakers Knowledge. and tells us, what Knowledge the People (the Quakers) have attained unto above all others; and saith, it is Spiritual and Experimental, from the immediate Unction of the Holy Ghost, and proceeds not from hear-say, but Divine Revelation; this is Life Eternal to know God, which is Light, yea, the Father of Lights, and that the Light within is the Son of God. This is that Mystery that is hid from the Wise and Prudent, and Revealed unto Babes: They know him not, but say, it is the Devil; or at best, but the Light of Nature, and so they know not whence it is, and yet he hath enlightened Thousands; and it was never known that the Devil, or the Light of Nature Converted any to the Lord. For Answer hereunto, Quakers put Light for Darkness, and Darkness for Light. I say, it is a very dreadful thing for any Man to put Darkness for Light, and Light for Darkness (as this Man does) a Dreadful Woe is Denounced against such, Isa. 5.20. Woe to them that call Evil Good, and Good Evil; that put Darkness for Light, and Light for Darkness. If therefore the Light in thee be Darkness, how great is that Darkness, Mat. 6.23? But the Light in Thee, James Jackson, is Darkness: That is to say, Thy Understanding is Darkened and Blinded, not only by Corrupt Nature, (as all Unregenerate Men and Women are) but Darkened also by the Prince of Darkness, as is Manifest by all thy Writings, that thou puttest Darkness for Light: For the Minds of all natural Men are dark, yea, darkness itself; they cannot see Spiritual things no more than a Blind Man can Distinguish Colours; or than a Man that hath his sight, in a dark Dungeon, can Discern, or Distinguish of Objects. The Natural Man perceiveth not the things of God, neither can he know them, because they are Spiritually Discerned, 1 Cor. 2.14. Such an understanding and knowledge hast thou, and others of thy Principles and Ways. Thou and they (it seems) have attained to this Knowledge, which others (though the most Wise of other Persuasions) have not attained to: That the Light within is the Son of God, whom he hath sent, and that this is in every Man and Woman, and to know, and abide in this Light is Life Eternal. I am grieved for this thine and their Ignorance, though thou callest it Knowledge. Now, if ye will Harken to the true Light indeed, he will drive away, and dispel this Darkness, and shine into the Heart, and give the Light of the Knowledge of God, in the Face of Jesus Christ: Thou despisest the Knowledge of all others, that comes by hear-say meaning the Scriptures, as it plainly appears; thine (thou sayest) is by Immediate Revelation: But let me ask thee and them, how comes any one to know Christ, and to Believe in him, but by the Scriptures? How shall they Believe in him of whom they have not heard but by the Word of the Gospel, Rom. 10? As for Immediate Revelations we are not to Believe any of them, further than as they are Consonant, and Agreeable to the Scriptures, which the Holy Spirit of God hath already spoken; else we may believe a Lie, from a false Spirit; Witness thy own Case, with many others also, who have listened to Immediate Revelations, and prefer them before the Revelations of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures; which (undoubtedly) will be your undoing, except ye Repent, and see your Error, for in thus doing ye prefer the Devil's Doctrine before the Doctrine of Christ: Yea, ye shut out the say of Christ, and take in the say of Satan. If we have no way to try the Spirits, Three Spirits speak in Men. how shall we know what Spirit it is that speaketh in us; for there are three distinct Spirits that speak in Men at certain times: Sometimes the Spirit of God moves and works in Me●; he dwells and abides in his People, but not in his Enemies; he sometimes Reproves wicked Men, the World, of sin, Righteousness, and Judgement. Secondly, There is the seducing spirit, he also moves in the Minds of Men, both in the Godly and : He moved David, and prevailed with him, to his hurt: This spirit all are to Watch and War against daily. He sometimes moves to that which is Good, as well as to Evil, but with an intent to deceive thereby: he subtly mixeth some Currant Coin with the Counterfeit, that it may the better pass without suspicion. Thirdly, Many things proceed immediately from a Mans own spirit (his Understanding, Reason, and Natural Conscience) many things are wrought and Forged in this Mint, according to a Man's Natural Faculties. Now, how shall a Man know from which of these spirits things proceed, Trial of Spirits. and whether they be good or not, or what they tend to, but by some known, fixed, perfect Rule; and what is that, but the Scriptures? The spirit of Truth having given them as a Light to our Feet, and a Lantern to our Paths, even ●o our inward Paths, (the Movings and workings of our Hearts) as well as to our outward Paths in our Conversations: He that shall take heed to the Immediate Revelations, and Motions in his heart, and follow them, and not take heed to the Revelations of the spirit in the Scriptures to compare them together, shall be sure to err; in this thou, James Jackson, and many more of the Quakers; are sad Instances and prooss of this Truth at this day; for if the seducing spirit once perceive that any Person will take heed to, Observe, and follow the Dictates and Motions within him, and never try them by the Scriptures, he may then suggest what he will, and never be Discovered, but Obeyed as God, especially in all those things that have a show, and Resemblance of good in them, and which weak and Ignorant Minds are not able to Discern or Distinguish; partly, by Reason of the Lowness and Weakness of their Natural Parts and Faculties; and partly, by Reason of the Weakness of Grace, and small Measures of Light, if any at all be here. And Observe this also for a certain Truth, Light of Nature sees some Sins, and some Duties. That Natural Conscience in all Men and Women does Rebuke, and Reprove them for many gross Evils, which they at any time are guilty of: If they Commit Murder or Theft, or Cheat and Deceive their Neighbour, or such like; this Light within every one is sufficient to see these to be Evil, and that they ought not to be: And this Natural Light within will also secretly move them to some things that are good and Honest, to do to others, as they would have others to do unto them: It shows them that Meekness, Patience, Temperance, Chastity, Charity, and such like Moral Virtues are good and commendable in the Lives of Men; and when they follow after these things (as many Heathens have done) than their Consciences (or the Light within) will Excuse them, and they have Peace in so doing: But if they do those other gross Evils, than this Light within will Accuse, Disquiets and Disturb them. But this Light within can never Discover to them Spiritual Evils and sins: Light within sees not Spiritual sins. As Pride, Self-love, Unbelief, Hypocrisy, and such like; neither can it lead them to see, or Discern Jesus Christ, or the things of Christ, Revealed in the Gospel; the things of the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousness thereof, without the Light of the spirit of God, and the Scriptures. All this is but Nature, it is not Grace; neither is it Christ the true Light, as this Author of the strong Man Armed cast out, and his Followers do call it, and contend earnestly for it, and account it true Knowledge, and such a Measure and Degree of Knowledge, as no other Professors have attained to but themselves, as he there tells us: Whereas indeed they have not yet reached to the very first Principles of the Oracles of God: And therefore thou, James Jackson, didst well to leave off to be a Parish Priest, and to be any longer a Teacher among the Independents: As thou told'st us, I wish thou wouldst also leave off to be a Teacher any longer among the Quakers, or rather a Seducer. And first go, and Hear, and Learn, and be Instructed in the saving Knowledge of Christ, as the Scriptures have Revealed him; lest thou be one of those who will Cry at the last day, Lord, Lord, have we not Prophesied in thy Name, and in thy Name done many Wonderful Works: And then thou hear among others, that Dreadful Sentence, Depart from me, ye Workers of Iniquity, I know you not; I own not your Teachings, your Prophecying, or Declaring in my Name; ye have Blasphemed my Name, and caused my Name, my Gospel, and my People to be despised amongst many by your means; ye Disowned, Reproached, and Separated from my People, and in as much as ye did it unto these my Brethren, ye did it unto me. You the Teaching Quakers, The Quakers guilty of these two great sins. are guilty of those two great Evils that the People were guilty of in the Prophet Jeremiah's Time, Jer. 2.12. The Prophets Prophesied Lies unto them, and Taught the People to forsake the Living and true God, and to look unto Idols; and the Lord pleads with them about it, and tells them such a thing was never heard of amongst any People or Nations, that they should Change their God; but this sottish People, who had no understanding, they changed their Glory for a Vain thing, for that which cannot Profit: And it is such stupendious Folly and Madness, that he calls to the very Heavens to Behold it, and Admire it; ver. 12. Be astonished, O ye Heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid: Be ye very Desolate, saith the Lord; v. 13. For my People have Committed two Evils, They have forsaken me, the Fountain of Living Waters, and hewed them out Cisterns, broken Cisterns, that can hold no Water. Now Consider, ye have even done thus; Ye have forsaken the Living and true God, the Saviour of sinners (all that do Believe in him, and rest upon him and his Righteousness for Justification) and ye have set upon an Idol, Natural Conscience, and trust to it, and your own Personal Righteousness and Obedience, for Life, Justification, and Salvation; and what are these, but as their Broken Cisterns, that can Afford no Refreshing in a Time of Need? Take heed then, and be Instructed, thou and they, and Teach no longer this False Doctrine, that the Light in every Man and Woman is Christ, the true Light; seeing it is but a Creature, and in every one by Nature: Will ye Debase, and Degrade Christ, by calling him a Creature? Or Deisie the Creature, by calling it Christ the true Light? It is true, it is from Christ, he is the Creator of it, as of all other Creatures in the World, the World was made by him, and without him was nothing made that was made, John 1. How then can it be Christ? Is the Carpenter the house that he hath builded? Or is the house the Carpenter? Are they both one and the same? Is not the Carpenter a Man, and the house his Workmanship? Is not God the Creator of all things, and his Creatures distinct Being's? Why dost thou Confound them together, and make them all one? Let Christ be the true Light, and Conscience his Created Light, as the Sun and the Moon in the Firmament are also his Created Lights: Let these and other Lights be distinct, and known one from another, and not confounded together any more. For this Light of Natural Conscience (which is in every Man and Woman) as it does now in this World Reprove for many gross sins, and move unto many Moral Virtues and Duties; Excusing for the one, The Light within shall be in Hell for ever. & Accusing for the other; (as we see it is plainly Asserted by the Apostle Paul, Rom. 1.) This Light, I say, will Remain, and Abide in Reprobates and unbelievers for ever, in the next World, as well as in this; and will be there a Tormentor to them, World without end. Wilt thou and thy Followers then call it Christ, and the true Light: Take heed then, James Jackson, and all those of thy Mind, and Repent of your Errors, lest this Light shine clearly, and in the midst of that outer Darkness, and be as the Worm that never dies, and a Light and Fire that shall never go out, or be Extinguished to all Eternity. This Doctrine of the Light within takes Men off from Christ, The Quakers draw People to Idolatry. and Directs them to look after, and follow an Idol; and this is so great an evil and sin, as that it is not to be endured, nor spoken of, without great Indignation against it, and in Zeal for our precious Lord Jesus Christ; who is certainly greatly provoked by it; which will appear when he gins to Execute his Wrath and Indignation against his Enemies: We may see how he stands affected towards such Persons as seek to draw away the Hearts of the People from him after other gods: See Deut. 13. the whole Chapter. If there arise a Prophet, or any other Persons, and seek to draw away the hearts of the People from the Lord, unto Idols, they were not to be spared, but should certainly be put to Death; no, not the nearest Friend or Relation whatsoever. Ver. 6. If thy Brother, the Son of thy Mother, or thy Son, or thy Daughter, or the Wife of thy Bosom, or thy Friend which is as thine own soul, shall entice thee secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods: Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him, neither shall thine Eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: Ver. 9 But thou shalt surely kill him, thine hand shall be first upon him, to put him to Death, and afterwards the hand of all the People. And if any City should be known to Departed from God, and go after Idols, it was to be Burnt with Fire, and all that was in it. We see how Jealous God is of his Glory, His Glory he will not give to another, The Quakers under Spiritual Judgements. nor his praise to Graven Images; surely he is God, and Changeth not; as he hath Discovered his Displeasure against his Enemies, so he doth, and will do still: Therefore take Notice of these things, ye Seducers among the Quakers; for although God doth not deal with Men now, in these Gospel-days, to punish them with Corporal or Temporal punishments, as in former times under the Old Administration; yet as sure as God is true, he will deal with his Enemies severely at last; and his Judgements in these Days of the Gospel are more spiritual than formerly: Spiritual Judgements are greater than Corporal Punishments; Hardness of Heart, Blindness of mind, a Reprobate Sense, a Seared Conscience; these are Dreadful Judgements: And surely these Judgements and tokens of God's Anger are upon the very Men that we are speaking of, the false Prophets and Teachers among the Quakers, as is plainly to be seen; and their Sin is seen in their Punishments. They seek to draw away the Hearts of People from the Lord, from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; from his Word and Gospel, unto an Idol of their own setting up, and would have all People to bow unto it, and Worship it, and trust in it, and Obey it; and therefore God hath justly with-drawn himself from them: He denies them his Grace, his Spirit, yea, in a great Measure the very Light of Nature, which is common to other Men, as is seen by their Doctrines, Tenets, and Principles, and by their Foolish, Irrational Arguing, in maintaining their Idle Fancies, which have neither Scripture, nor any solid Reason to uphold them. And as is seen also by their Rage and Anger against any that do oppose their Errors, seeking to turn them to the Truth; they find hard and bitter speeches, and Railing Accusations against them for so doing. And as the heart of God is against them, so also are the hearts of his People; for Their heart goes where the heart of God goes: And this also Declares their sin, as it is likewise a punishment due to them. So that these Judgements are not small that are upon them, even in this Life, though they may yet escape other external punishments. Obj. What does it avail them to say, They do not seek to draw away People's Hearts from Christ, but rather to Direct their Minds to Christ; they teach them to take heed to the Light within every Man and Woman, which is Christ. Answ. It is Answered, This is false, ye do not seek to Direct People's Minds to Christ, but to an Idol, Natural Conscience, as hath been proved here, and by many others formerly: Be not deceived, Christ is not Mocked; it is not Christ because ye give it the Name of Christ: He is the more provoked by your making use of his Name, and denying him his Worship, that Love and Obedience that is due unto him; that trust and confidence that ought to be put in him, that Glory and Praise that ought to be given unto him; all is taken away from Christ, and given to this Idol: Ye do also exceedingly Dishonour him, and Blaspheme him, by Entituling him to false Doctrines, and Erroneous Opinions; saying, it is from, or by the Light within; and in the External Light ye see, and speak these and these things; yea, many times when ye utter Railing speeches, Lies, and false Accusations against his People, in seeking to do you good. O dreadful Blindness and Hardness of Heart! Does Christ within deny Christ without? Does the Light within deny the Person of Christ (as ye do in your Pamphlets) his being in Heaven, and his Coming from thence in Glory to Judge the World in Righteousness, even by that Man whom God the Father hath appointed: Had you not a double or triple vail of Darkness upon your Minds you would never speak after this sort. Ye say, The Quakers Perfection: In Sin. ye Witness Perfection: Indeed so ye do: Ye prove it to all against yourselves: And we Witness your Perfection also; all that know your Principles and Ways, do Witness that ye are come to Perfection, to Perfection in Sin, to the highest Degrees of sinning, your Iniquities are even full, or very near it; for how can ye rise Higher? what steps are there for you yet to ascend up unto, above what ye have already attained? Ye have already denied the Holy one, and the Just, our Lord Jesus Christ that bought us; ye have Crucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame; yea, ye have trodden him under foot, and counted the blood of the Covenant as a common thing, and done despite to the Spirit of Grace, denying his true Operations in his People, and also Blasphemously Attributing the Inspirations of the Devil unto the Spirit of God in yourselves; ye have despised the Word of God, the Scriptures, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus; and therein the tenders of Rich and free Grace in the Covenant of Life and Peace, and preferred your own vain Fancies; yea, the subtle insinuations and inspirations of seducing spirits before the clear truths of the Gospel of Christ, and resting in your own Righteousness for Justification; and what can ye do more, or worse? Ye have also Despised, Rejected, Disowned, and Separated from the people of the Lord, all the particular Churches, Congregations, and Assemblies of the Saints, yea, and Reproached them also, and uttered many hard and bitter speeches against them, and that for seeking to do you good, in turning you from the ways of sin and Death: And being lifted up in yourselves in the height of your Pride and vain Minds; ye have thought and said of yourselves, that ye are the most holy people upon Earth; yea, the only people of God upon the Earth. And what can ye say, or do more, or worse than these things? Have ye not attained the highest degrees of sinning, even to such a Perfection as the Nature of Man is capable of, or that Satan can bring it unto? and therefore we witness your perfection in these Respects. But as to Perfection in Grace, The Quakers Imperfection in Grace. as ye vainly think of yourselves, (and would have others to esteem of you also,) ye are at the remotest distance that may be, 1. In Knowledge. seeing that ye have not as yet laid the Foundation of the Knowledge of Christ: Yea, are Ignorant (even your Teachers) of the very first Principles of the Oracles of God; ye know not the difference between Nature and Grace, ye are not yet able to distinguish between Natural Light in the Conscience of every Man and Woman, and the true Light, Jesus Christ, but mistake the one for the other: Ye are not able to discern the workings of the Spirit of God, and the seducing spirit, but mistake the one for the other: Ye are so Ignorant and Blind, that ye think and say, Men must be Justified by the works of the Law, a Mans own personal Obedience, and not by the Imputed Righteousness of Christ by Faith, quite contrary to the Gospel of Christ; a deadly, damning Doctrine. Herein lies your Perfection in Knowledge. And as for your Perfection in Faith and Hope, 2. In Faith and Hope. how can ye believe, or in what, or in whom do ye Believe; seeing ye have denied Christ, the Object of Faith to all true believers; denied him in his Death, Righteousness, Merits, and in all that he hath done and Suffered for his People: these things are herein, (and by others) made manifest against you by your own Writings, 1 Cor. 13. And as for your Perfection in Love, 3. In Love. the chiefest of all Graces, ye are far from Perfection in that also: All the Love ye show forth, is but self-love to yourselves, and among yourselves: Every particular Person thinking, and esteeming of himself more Highly than he ought to think, and would that all others should esteem highly of him also. And as for any Love to others, it is but to your own party, such as say as ye say, and do as ye do: And because they (poor, ignorant, silly people) are willing to hang upon your Lips (the Teachers) and to take all for granted that ye say, as if your say were the Oracles of God, for that ye Love them. They esteem more of the say of their Teachers, than of the say of God; as one of them (not long since) expressing her desires to have some of her Friends Books; one said to her, she had the Scriptures, she might employ herself there: She Answered, That the Bible (indeed) is a good honest thing, but she had rather Read some of her Friends Books. So we see, That in all these things ye have Witnessed perfection, as ye call it, which indeed is at the furthest distance from perfection; so far, as not yet Witnessing the first beginnings of Grace in you: But as for the other kind of Perfection, that is, Perfection in sin, in the highest degrees of sinning, ye do Witness it, and have given many clear and manifold Proofs and Evidences of your perfection in that Respect; and we (all that fear God, who know your deadly Principles) do join with you in this Testimony, and do Witness also that ye have Witnessed Perfection. O how have ye Despised the Free Grace of God, and Neglected great Salvation, tendered in the Gosspel, which all the Saints so highly prise and value, seeing God in Christ doth vouchsafe to condescend so low to poor sinful Dust and Ashes, in the sweet terms of the Gospel, Offering Peace and Reconciliation, Happiness and Glory to all those who will Accept thereof; yea, even Entreating and Beseeching of Miserable sinners to come in, and be Reconciled to him. 2 Cor. 5.20. We as Ambassadors for Christ, as if Christ did beseech you by us, be ye Reconciled to God. How then shall they escape who Neglect so great Salvation? Surely such as are deeply wounded, and under the sight and sense of sin, death and hell, the Wrath of God, the Curse of the Law, they highly prise the Terms of the Gospel, the Covenant of Grace, the sweet and precious promises of Life, Rest, and Peace: But those that are whole see no need of the Physician, as it appears ye do not, that can make so light of the terms of Freegrace and Love through Christ; as we find ye do by many passages in your Books. Where shall we find in all your Books and Pamphlets such Doctrine as the Apostle Paul Preached, Paul Preacheth Christ, and not the Light in every Man and Woman. and wrote in all his Epistles, by the Inspiration of God; he set forth Christ crucified in all places where he came, and instructed the people in that Fundamental Doctrine. 1 Cor. 2.2. I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him Crucified: Paul lays aside, and slights all things for Christ, Phil. 3.8. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Ver. 9 And he found in him, not having mine own Righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Christ, the Righteousness which is of God by Faith. We can hear no such Doctrine as this amongst the Quakers; nay, the very contrary: slighting the Person of Christ, and the Righteousness of Christ Imputed to Believers; who of God is made Righteousness to them: And setting up their own Righteousness, and the Perfection of it, which may be made appear by their Books. And yet they tell (and so deceive) their simple, silly Hearers, that they do Declare Christ unto them, the Light within every Man and Woman, that is God, and Christ, the Saviour of the World: But will this serve their turn, to put the Name Christ upon one of his Creatures? Will Christ allow any to take away his Name, and his Glory, and an Idol with it; and then say, they Declare, and set forth Christ? This is the way to divert and draw off the minds of poor Ignorant People from Christ, as he is Revealed in the Gospel. This is the great Fundamental Doctrine of the Devil; The Devil's Fundamental Doctrine. The chief point of Doctrine that he Teacheth his Disciples; That is to say, To Deny Christ: Eo disown him according as the Gospel hath Revealed him; and then to set up something else in his stead: Let them call it Christ if they will, that's no Matter to give it the Name, so it be not Christ, he knows it will deceive Ignorant Minds the sooner, the more easily: For thereby he knows they do but Mock Christ, and disown him the more; and also the more provoke him, that Men should give his Name and Title to any thing, and disown himself, as these Men do: They call the Light within Christ, but deny Christ himself, as the Gospel sets him forth. Now, this the Devil knows is enough to serve his turn, and destroy them, and therefore he still keeps the Eye of their Mind upon this, and makes them look upon it through a Multiplying Glass, and shuts the Eyes of their Mind against Christ, as he is Revealed in the Scriptures: The God of this wicked World hath Blinded the Minds of them that believe not, lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them: And if the Gospel be hid from them, it is hid to them that are lost. We see in all their Declaring, in all their Books and Pamphlets, this is the Main and Chief point; to Teach their Hearers to take heed to the Light within, to the Witness of God within, with variety of Expressions to that purpose: But what do we hear in all their Books, and Teachings concerning Christ that was Promised long before he came into the World; of Christ that was born when the fullness of time was come; of Christ that Lived amongst us, and Preached, and Taught amongst us the way of Salvation; of Christ that Died for us, and risen again, and Ascended into Heaven; that is now at the right Hand of God, making Intercession for us; of Christ that shall shortly come again in glory (and yet in his Humane Nature,) to Judge the World in Righteousness? This is the Christ that the Gospel Declares, and that all true Believers know, and own, and Teach plainly and clearly (without Equivocations and subtle Evasions as these false Teachers among the Quakers use to speak of him,) and whom all believers have Received by Faith, who dwells in them, and they in him. But what do we hear of all this in the Teachings of these Men among the Quakers? Nay, on the contrary, their Doctrines in their Books and Pamphlets that they frequently send forth, do Directly Oppose these things: And therefore we may safely conclude their Doctrine is the Doctrine of Devils; for if all the Devils in Hell should combine together, and join their Cursed Craft and Malice against Christ and the Souls of Men, they could not bring forth a more Damning Doctrine than this is: For, to Deny Christ is to deny all. What then shall we say to these Men, or of them? Surely, Obstinate Quakers to be Rejected. seeing these things are so, That they have thus denied the Lord that bought us, and Preach up another Christ, and maintain and uphold this their Idol, in Opposition to Christ, as the Gospel hath Declared him; and slight, and Despise the Scriptures, we have grounds to conclude they are Men of Corrupt Minds, of Seared Consciences, Idolaters, and Heretics. Now, the Apostle by the Inspiration of God, gives us a Rule, 1 Tim. 3. Reject an Heretic after once or twice Admonished, but these Men have been often Admonished, Pleaded, and Disputed with; and they regard not Admonition, they resist the Truth, and the Spirit of Grace and Truth speaking in the Scriptures, and in, and by his People, they will not hear, they will not regard the Counsel of God: But in their Ignorance and Pride they despise both God and Men; and do prefer their own Idle and vain Fancies, and Satan's subtle false Insinuations, before the Teachings of the Spirit of God. If God should work a Miracle, and raise up the Apostle Paul from the Dead, to Declare against them and their Doctrines, they would no more regard him, nor his Teachings, than they regard Tho. Hicks, in his three Dialogues Between a Christian and a Quaker; or than they regard any other Messenger of Christ, who pleads with them, and lays the very truths of God before them, as it is Revealed by the Spirit in the Gospel. We are assured of this, from Luke 16.31. If they will not Hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they hear, though one should rise from the Dead: So if they will not hear Christ and his Apostles in the Gospel, if they will not hear the Scriptures; neither will they be persuaded to embrace the Truth, though one should be sent to them from the Dead. Nay, if Christ himself should come, and speak to them in that mean state and condition that he was when he conversed among us here below, these People would regard him no more than the hardened Jews did in their Day: For they Reject and Deny him now, his Doctrine, and his Person, in his Merits, Righteousness, Satisfaction, &c, And so would do, if he were Personally present. So that my Judgement is, Let them alone, they be blind Leaders of the blind; they talk of a Light within, but the Light in them is Darkness; and it is a great darkness, a double darkness; more than a single Natural darkness (as is the state of all Mankind by Nature) but also a darkness added to that; even a darkness as a punishment or a Judgement, a Judicial darkness. Natural darkness is the sin of man, but this darkness is the Judgement of God: That because they regard not the Truth, they will not receive it in the Love thereof, therefore hath God given them up to strong delusions to believe lies: That seeing they will not believe the Truth, they shall believe Lies. What Difference shall we think is there between these Men, The Quakers sin is like the great sin of the hardened Jews. the Teachers among the Quakers, who have delivered these Damnable Doctrines , (being the Doctrines of Devils;) and still maintain them? What difference, I say between them and those Jews who Blaspemed the Holy Ghost, and ran into that sin unto death? Those Jews Rejected Christ, his say and Doctrine, which he Taught among them, and they told him that he had a Devil: Christ tells them then, after that he had often spoken unto them, and Taught them, and they would not hear him, nor regard his say, he than Declares unto them their dreadful state: And surely the sin of these Men looks so like unto the sin of those Jews, that I think it's hard for any Man to distinguish them otherwise than by saying, That the sin of these Teachers does Exceed the sin of those Jews: The sin of these Men seems to be much Aggravated, in that they have not only heard all those Say, and Doctrines of Christ, which he Preached among the Jews, but they have had the Truths of God Offered and tendered to them by others also; the Apostles, Evangelists, and Disciples of Christ have spoken to them in the Scriptures (which those Jews never had.) And also, many of the Ministers, Messengers, and Ambassadors of Christ have spoken to them, and tendered the very Truths of the Gospel to them; yea, many others of his Faithful Saints and Servants, have from time to time spoken to them, and Advised, Counselled, and Admonished them, and yet all in vain; they have Rejected all, and despised all; and have (as Swine) Trampled Pearls under their Feet, and turned again, and Rend those that brought them; they have Reviled them, and Reproached them for so doing; so that to what purpose should any Man go about to Teach these Teachers, who are not capable to Learn, as being Blinded, and Hardened, and Sealed up (as is fea●ed) even to destruction, having their Consciences seared with an hot Iron? Men of Corrupt Minds, Reprobate to every good work, without Judgement, unfit either to Teach or Learn: For we know there have been many such in former days, who were guilty of this great sin; some such were contemporaries with the Prophet Isaiah, Chap. 6.10. Make the Heart of this People fat, and make their Ears heavy, and shut their Eyes, &c, So also many such were in the Time of our Lord and Saviour, Mat. 13.15. This People's Heart is waxed gross, and their Ears are dull of Hearing, and their Eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should See with their Eyes, and Hear with their Ears, and should Understand with their Heart, and should 〈◊〉 Converted, and I should heal them. In this Generation there are just such a People (even those of whom we speak;) they shut their Ears and their Eyes, and their Hearts against Christ, and the Truths of the Gospel: All the Advice and Counsels of Men, which are according to the Truth, all are Rejected and Despised. The Inspirations of the spirit of God are refused, but the Inspirations of the spirit of Delusion are readily Received and Embraced. My Judgement is therefore, let them be Rejected as Heretics, having been so often Admonished; as Men that are hardened to Destruction. And for the Hearers among the Quakers, Advice to the Hearers among the Quakers. my Council unto you is, Separate yourselves from the Congregations, and Meetings of these ungodly Men, lest ye be Consumed in all their sin: Be as much afraid of them, and of their Poisonous Doctrines, as ye would be afraid to eat of a dish of Meat before you on the Table, that had rank Poison in it, of which ye were told, and fully assured of it: Would ye eat of such a Dish? I know ye would not; Remember and consider Eternity, it will be well or ill with you for ever, according as ye Receive, or Refuse the Truths of the Gospel now. Beware of False Prophets, which come to you in Sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are Ravening Wolves; if ye be the Sheep of Christ, follow him, and know his Voice in the Scriptures, in your hearts, and amongst his own People, and follow not Strangers, that bring strange false Doctrines about the Light within; and in many other things which have been mentioned, contrary to the Mind of Christ Revealed in the Scriptures. These People, the Quakers, The Quakers great Idol near falling. have forsaken the Fountain of Living Waters, and have run to broken Cisterns: And seeing they have forsaken the Living and true God, the Glory of his People, and set up an Idol, a false Christ, the Light in every Man and Woman that cometh into the World: I shall therefore bring against this their false Doctrine several Arguments from Scripture, to prove the Vanity and falsehood of it, as so many Pieces of Ordnance Planted against this great Idol, which the Quakers have set up and Worship, that so it may fall, as Dagon, before the Ark of the Lord. Whereas they say, That Christ the true Light is in every Man and Woman that cometh into the World: This is not a Truth; because in whomsoever Christ is and dwells, he does enlighten that Soul with true Light, saving Light, supernatural Light, even by himself, by his Spirit, and by the Scriptures. It's true, all wicked Men that come into the World have Lights of Christ's making, he Created them, which Enlighten all Mankind, and that both Outwardly and Inwardly. 1. They are Enlightened Outwardly, by Lights that God hath Created, and set in the Heavens, the Sun and the Moon, by which all are Enlightened. 2. And then Secondly, All Men and Women that come into the World, are Enlightened with Inward Light also; Reason and Natural Conscience: So Christ the true Light, Enlighteneth all that come into the World, which is all that is Intended and meant by that place, John 1.9. But Christ himself is the true Light, the Light of Lights; who inlightneth his own People immediately by himself, and by his Spirit, which the wicked of the World are not Partakers of; they have only those common Lights . As is fully and plainly Proved by these Scripture Arguments. Ten Propositions Proved by Scripture. Those in whom Christ is, and and dwells, First Argument. Prop. 1. he Inlightens them with spiritual Light. But wicked Men and women are not Enlightened with spiritual Light; therefore Christ is not in wicked Men and women. For Proof of these Propositions, both Major and Minor (than the Conclusion drawn from them must needs be granted by all Rational Men,) See Eph. 5.8. Ye sometimes were Darkness, but now are ye Light in the Lord: walk as Children of Light. And Paul was sent to turn Men from Darkness to Light, Acts 26.18. And we see the Corinthians who sometimes were Darkness, and afterwards Converted, Paul says, 2 Cor. 4.6. God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness, hath shined in our Hearts, to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. But as for others who were Carnal and Unregenerate, he tells us, they were in Darkness, and Darkness in them, v. 4. And the God of this World had blinded the minds of those that believe not, lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the Image of God, should shine unto them. In whomsoever Christ is, The Second Argument. Prop. 2. and dwells, he quickens them, and makes them spiritually Alive. But unregenerate Men and Women are not Spiritually Alive, but Dead; Therefore Christ is not in unregenerate Men and Women. Proof. Eph. 2.1. You hath he quickened, who were Dead in Trespasses and sins. And Christ complaineth of the Jews, That they would not come unto him, that they might have Life, John 5.40. plainly implying, that they were Dead, and that they might have Life, if they had come unto him. Christ is not in those who are not in him. The Third Argument. Prop. 3. But the Unregenerate World are not in Christ. Therefore Christ is not in the Unregenerate World. For Proof hereof see Col. 1.21. You that were sometimes alienated, and Enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he Reconciled, 2 Cor. 5.17. If any Man be in Christ, he is a New Creature. Now, no Unregenerate Persons are New Creatures, therefore not in Christ. And Christ says plainly that he is In his People, which implies (as we may perceive, if we Observe the context) that he is not in the Unregenerate World, John 17.23. I in them, and thou in me. And again, ver. 26. I in them: Those that Christ means by Them, are in Opposition to the World; for he hath chosen them out of the world, v. 16. the words [I in them] are very Emphatical, and full with this sense, clearly implying that he is not in the world of Unregenerate persons, even as the words before, v. 9 do plainly express that he prays not for the world, but for them, his people; so these words do as plainly imply that he is in them, and not in the world, John 15.4, 5. we see there at large, That such as abide in Christ, he also is in them, and not otherwise. Christ is not in those for whom he Prays not. The Fourth Proposition. Prop. 4. But, Christ Prays not for the unbelieving World. Ergo. Christ is not in the unbelieving World. Our Saviour tells us several times, that he is not of the world, v. 14. they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. And again, v. 16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world; as if he had said, I am none of their Company, I am not of them, nor in them; I have no such Fellowship, or Familiarity with them, as to Live in them: I am not of the world, nor in the world; I am in my People, even in those which thou Father hast given me: I in them, and thou in me. And ver. 9 He positively and plainly tells us, That he Prays not for the world, the wicked, unbelieving, unregenerate world; he neither Prays for them, nor is in them. 5. Fifthly, Another Proposition, or Syllogism, proving that Christ is not in all Men and women, as the Quakers assert, is this. They to whom Christ doth not Manifest himself by Teaching them his Mind and Will, Prop. 5. Christ is not in them. But Christ doth not manifest himself to wicked and ungodly Men and Women: Therefore Christ is not in wicked and ungodly Men and Women. For Proof of this Proposition in both parts, consider, Wicked and ungodly Men and Women are destitute of true saving Knowledge and Wisdom; they know not the things that belong to their Peace; and are destroyed for lack of Knowledge: 2 Cor. 4.4. The Devil, the god of this unbelieving World, hath blinded their Minds, lest the Gospel of Christ should shine unto them, Christ Discovers himself, his Mind, and Will, in and by the Gospel, his Spirit opening men's Minds and Understandings to receive it, but Christ suffers this blindness of Mind to rest upon some Persons, and does not Manifest himself unto them; therefore he is not in them: One asketh Christ a Question, John 14.22. about this very thing; Lord, how is it that thou wilt Manifest thyself unto Us, and not unto the World? He had heard Christ make such a distinction between them and the World, in being in them, and not in the World, and in Praying for them, and not for the World; that now he asketh Christ a Reason of this Difference and Distinction between them and the World, which is sufficient for the Proof of the Proposition. And elsewhere, telling his Disciples, That God had hid those things from the Wise and Prudent of the World, and Revealed them unto Babes. Sixthly, Another Argument. Prop. 6. Christ is in none but those who dwell in Love. But wicked Men and Women do not dwell in Love. Therefore Christ is not in Wicked Men and Women. For Proof of this Proposition, see 1 John 4.12. If we Love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his Love is perfected in us: And ver. 16. God is Love, and he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. Now, we know all wicked Men and women in the world they dwell not in Love, but in Enmity and Hatred; and Enmity and Hatred dwells in them. They Love not God, but Hate God, Psal. 27. They Hated me without a Cause: They have Enmity in their minds against God, his word, his ways, Ordinances, and People; Therefore Christ is not in them. 7. The seventh Proposition, Proving that Christ is not in all Men and women that come into the world, as the Quakers assert, is this. Christ is not in those Persons where the Devil is, Prop. 7. and dwells, Rules, and Reigns. But the Devil is, Rules, and Reigns in the Wicked, unregenerate World. Therefore Christ is not in the wicked, unregerate world. For Proof hereof, See Eph. 2.2. In time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the Prince of the power of the Air, the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience. And 2 Tim. 2.26. And that they may recover themselves out of the Snare of the Devil, who are taken Captive by him at his will. This is also Manifest by that Comparison that our Lord Christ makes to Answer the Blasphemous Jews, who charged him, that he cast out Devils by the power of the Devil, Luke 11.21. when the strong Man Armed keeps the House, all is in quiet, he Rules; but when a stronger than he cometh, he casts him out, and Divides the Spoils, v, 24. The unclean Spirit keeps House, and after a time goes out, for a Season, and then Returns again into his House, and takes seven other spirits as bad, or worse than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there; and the last state of that Man is worse than the first. This is for thee, James Jackson, Author of the strong Man Armed cast out. Thou sayest in this thy Book, that the strong Man Armed (meaning the Devil) is cast out of thee; and Christ, a stronger than he, is come in, and dwells in his stead: this (by the way) plainly contradicts this Principle and great Doctrine of thy Friends, the Quakers; That Christ is in every Man and woman. Thou confessest the Devil was in thee, whilst thou Livedest so wickedly as thou hast told us; but now, if Christ, a stronger than he, be come, and entered into thee, how was he there before, according to this Scripture, which says, when a stronger than he cometh: which plainly implies he was not there before; but the Devil was there before, and kept the House. But now consider this well, suppose it be so indeed, That the Devil, this strong Man Armed, was cast out, or in policy went out for a time, intending to come into his House again, and Fortify himself in thee, his House, in a stronger hold; and with greater strength, bringing in seven other Spirits worse than himself, more Subtle and Politic, Fortifying themselves in a way of Hypocrisy and Religion; the other hold of Profaneness not being so sure as this; for now thou art persuaded (as thou tellest us) all is well with thee, thou art a New Man, a Converted Man, as we see, and Read thy long story to that purpose. I Advise thee, as thou lovest thy Soul, and Regardest thy Eternal Welfare, take heed lest this Scripture be not fulfilled in thee, and upon thee, for thou lookest as like one of those spoken of, and intended in this Scripture, as can be: beware lest thy last state be not worse than thy first. 8. Another Argument proving that Christ is not in all Men and women, is this. Christ is not in any Man or Woman who have not Faith: Prop. 8. But the Wicked and ungodly have no Faith. Therefore Christ is not in the wicked and ungodly. The Apostle Prays to be delivered from unreasonable, and wicked Men, for all Men have not Faith, 2 Thes. 3.2. Now, Christ is, and dwells in those in whom he works Faith, for he is the Author and Finisher of Faith in all his People, and he dwells in them by Faith, Eph. 3.17. He Prays, That they may be strengthened with might by his Spirit, in the inner Man, That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith. 9 Another Argument Denying the Quakers Assertion, and Proving the Truth, is this: Christ is not in any Man or Woman, Prop. 9 but in those to whom he doth communicate his Nature and Image. But Christ doth not Communicate his Nature and Image to Impenitent and ungodly Men and Women. Therefore Christ is not in ungodly Men and Women. It is impossible that Christ should dwell in any Soul, and not Manifest his Presence there, by making Impressions of his own Nature, Image, and Likeness: And therefore where he comes, he doth Communicate his Image, more or less. 1 Cor. 15.48. As is the Heavenly, such are they also that are Heavenly: v. 49. And as we have born the Image of the Earthly, we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly. And 2 Pet. 1.4. There are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises, That by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature. 10. Another Proposition confirming the same, is this: Christ is in none but in those only who are joined to him, as Members of his Body. Prop. 10. But wicked Men and Women are not joined to him as Members of his Body. Therefore Christ is not in wicked Men and women. This Truth may be Illustrated, and shadowed out unto us by a plain Similitude between Natural and Mystical Fruit-trees: Similitudes of things with which we daily Converse, obvious to our Natural Senses, are very helpful unto us to shadow out, and Illustrate Spiritural things, which are Dark, Abstruse, and Difficult, as they lie in intricate Spiritual Notions; which without some plain Similitude would be discerned but dimly, as in this particular. As Windows are to a House, so are Similitudes to a Discourse: They both let in Light. We know the Root, Body, Boughs, Branches, and twigs of a Fruit-tree are all joined together, and do make but one Body or Substance: And that the Root gives no Sap, Life, or Nourishment but only to those parts of the Tree that are United to it; all those Boughs and Branches are Nourished from the Root; they Receive Sap, Spirit, and Life; the Innate, Form and Virtue of the Tree is in all the parts: But the Virtue and Influence of the Root is not in any other Branches or Boughs, which do not grow upon the Root, though they are never so near this Tree, though they are contiguous, and mixed among, or hang among the Living Branches, yet they have no Life in them, no Sap, no Virtue from the Root, because they are no parts of it. Even so it is here, in this Mystical Fruit-tree, Christ and his Members; his People, who are Members of his Body, they Receive Life, Nourishment, and Virtue from him; he is in them by his Effectual Operations: But as for others, who are not of his Body. who are not joined to him by Faith wrought by the Spirit, he is not in them, they receive no Virtue, Life, or Nourishment from him; he doth not Communicate himself to them, as he does to his own People, his Members; for he is in them, and they in him, 1 Cor. 12.27. Ye are the Body of Christ, and Members in particular, Col. 1.18. He is the Head of the Body the Church. And Col. 2.19. From the Head, all the Body by Joints and Bands, having Nourishment Ministered and knit together, increaseth with the Increase of God. This is plain from Christ's own words, John 15.1, 2, etc. I am the Vine, and my Father is the Husbandman: Every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit be takes away, and every Branch that beareth Fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more Fruit. Ver. 4. Abide in me, and I in you: Ver. 5. I am the V●ne, ye are the Branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much Fruit, for without me ye can do nothing. Thus have I drawn these Ten Pieces of Ordnance out of Gods own Magazine, and leveled them against this Idol, this false Christ, the Light in every Man and Woman; and it is fallen and broken, and Christ the true Light set up, and Worshipped in its stead, by all that Worship God in Spirit, and in Truth. How dreadful is the Case of these People (the Deceived one's among the Quakers,) who set up an Idol instead of Christ, and Worship it, and Teach others so to do; thereby forsaking the Fountain of Living waters, and digging to themselves broken Cisterns that can hold no water. Well might the Apostle Peter, and the Apostle Judas also, call them Wells without water, and Clouds without water, 2 Pet. 2.17. Judas 12. Seeing they have forsaken the Fountain of Living waters, Jesus Christ, and trust to a broken Cistern, they shall return from it with their Pitchers empty, and be ashamed; they shall find no water of Life to refresh them: They are now empty Vessels, as all (who have the true Light in them) may perceive; They have no Light, Wisdom, Knowledge, nor Understanding, as Christ gives to his People: No Sanctification, no Justification, no Reconciliation, no Salvation. But it is not so with true Believers, for they have chosen the Fountain of Living waters, the Fountain of Gardens, the Well of Living waters, Cant. 4.15. The Springhead of the River of water of Life, clear as Crystal, proceeding out of the Throne of God, and of the Lamb, Rev. 22.1. Who also gives unto every one of them, to have in themselves a Well of water springing up unto Eternal, John 4.14. so that out of their Bellies shall flow Rivers of Living water, John 7.38. In so much that they do therewith water others, and so obtain yet more waterings themselves, Prov. 11.25. So that their Souls are like watered Gardens, and as Springs of water, whose waters fail not, Isa. 58.11. We see then what a vast difference there is between these Wells without water, these Clouds without water ; who have set up their Idol, and trust in it; and those that have chosen the Fountain of Living waters: The one sort are continually dry, without any true Refresh; as the dry and barren wilderness without Fruit: But the other continually watered and refreshed, and bringeth forth much good Fruit: As the Tree Planted by the Rivers of waters, which bringeth forth his Fruit in due Season. 4. I shall now proceed, and show some other particulars wherein the Quakers say they do Excel all other Professors in the World, having already mentioned three particulars, (which James Jackson tells us of in his Book, p. 14. Strong Man Armed cast out, viz. In the true Foundation, in Faith, and in Knowledge: The Quakers Humility. So Fourthly, in Humility, and Spiritual abasement, and subjection to the Power and Kingdom of Jesus Christ; whereas other Professors are blown, swelled, and puffed up with Airy Notions, vain boastings, and self-conceitedness, as he there saith. Answ. In Answer to which, I say, I should be glad to see these good words and Professions to have any thing of Reality in them, that they may not be, as the Apostle says of the Love of some, which is in word, and in Tongue only, not in deed, nor in Truth: For wherein does this Humility appear? I see nothing that looks like Humility amongst them, except it be in an Outward Garb of Comely and decent Apparel; and for that, they are (in good earnest) to be commended; I wish others would take Example by them herein, and avoid all Foolish Garbs and Fashions, unbecoming for Professors of the Gospel. Yet this alone is but a show of Humility; it is not the Grace itself: But it is plain and manifest by their Principles, Behaviour, and Practice, they Discover that which is Directly contrary and Opposite to Humility, i. e. much Pride of Heart, and are lifted up in themselves, as the Proud Pharisee was; and are persuaded, and profess, that they are not as other Men are; all are Publicans and Harlots, in Ignorance, Blindness, and Darkness but themselves: Yea, all Professors of all persuasions whatsoever, that are not one with them in Judgement and Practice, they are all Deceived, and out of the way; out of the Light, the Truth, and the Life. Now, what greater Evidence of Pride can Men Discover than this? Little cause therefore has this Author to boast of his and their Humility, and to accuse other Professors as blown, swelled, and puffed up with Airy Notions, vain boastings, and self-conceitedness; when they themselves are plainly seen and known to be the Men, void of Humility, and swelled with Pride. 5. Fifthly, This Author of the strong Man Armed cast out, P. 14. The Quakers Unity. Commends the People with whom he now walks, for their Unity; not only in Opinion and Judgement, but in Spirit: And their Love is as the soul, that hath its Influence into all the parts and Members of the Natural Body; so it is among them, which (as he says) makes them in all their ways, Doctrine, and Practice, to be but as one Man, Answ. It is Answered; The Unity, Love, and Concord amongst the Quakers, is far from the Unity that Christ Commandeth & requireth to be amongst his People, the Members of his Body, the Church: He commandeth Love, Unity, Peace, Communion, and Fellowship to be between, and amongst all his People, his Members: And there is so, in their Degrees and Measures, which is discovered as Occasions and Opportunities are Offered. But though there were (as there is not) that Unity of Judgement, Opinion, and Practice amongst themselves, as he saith there is; yet I say, it is far from that Unity and Love that is in the true Church of Christ, for these People have cut off, and separated themselves from the true Church, and from all the particular Assemblies, Societies, and Congregations of the Church of Christ; and do fancy themselves to be the only People of God upon Earth; excluding all others, for so he hath said. O Wonderful strong delusion! A Darkness, and Blindness, not Natural only (as all Carnal Men are Blind) but surely, a Judicial blindness is upon them, Blindness as a just Judgement from the Lord, who hath given leave to the god of this World to blind the Minds of them that believe not. This Unity among themselves Dividing and Separating from all the Saints better than themselves (if we should suppose that they are of the Body) is the greatest Evidence of Enmity, strife, Schism, and Dissension that can be; for out of his own Mouth he is Judged: He Alludes to the Union between the Members of the Natural body, their Union and Love (he says) is such a Union: Now consider, Were it not a strange and Monstrous thing in Nature, for some of the Members of the Natural body to combine together against all the rest, to Neglect, or disown the rest of the Members? Nay, the Members of the Natural body we know, have mutual, and tender care of, and Love one to another, even so it is in the Mystical body the Church: The true Members Love one another; and as they have Union with the Head, so they have also one with another: And where there is at any time any Dissension and External Separation, Corruption and Satan are the Cause of it, which should Occasion Repentance and Humiliation, and not boasting. The Apostle Paul shows us plainly wherein the Unity of the true members of the Church of Christ consists; which is another kind of Unity, The true Unity of the true Church. than that among these People: He Discovers it briefly in this sevenfold Bond or Union; See Eph. 4.4. There is one body, and one spirit, one hope of your Calling; one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. First, one Body. 1. One Body. All Believers in all Ages of the world past, present, and to come, in all Nations, Kindred's, and People, Worshipping God in Spirit, and in Truth, under all Forms, do make this one body. And this one body hath but one Spirit; 2. One Spirit. as the Members of the Natural Body have but one Soul to Actuate and Enliven them, so also in the Mystical body; they all are quickened, taught, moved, and led by that one Spirit, which is the Promise of the Father, and of the Son. Thirdly, The Members of this one body having one spirit, have also one hope; even the hope and expectation of all the good things promised in the Gospel; 3. One Hope. Eternal Life, the enjoyment of God for ever. Fourthly, Another Bond of Union in the true Church, 4. One Lord. is One Lord, even our Lord Jesus Christ, unto whose Laws and Commands all his People are Subject. Fifthly, One Faith. That is, 5. One Faith. the true Justifying Faith of God's Elect, wrought by that one Spirit, apprehending that one Lord, for Justification by him alone: Paul calls it the Common Faith, Titus 1.4. Titus mine own Son, after the Common Faith. Sixthly, Another Bond of Union in the true Church, 6. One Baptism. is one Baptism, 1 Cor. 12.13. By one spirit we are all Baptised into one body; whether we be Jews, or Greeks, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. This one Baptism makes all Believers truly one. Seventhly, The last bond of Unity of the true Church, 7. One God. is, One God, and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all. All Believers are born of God, and are all Partakers of the Divine Nature among the Lord's People, none of them have a better Nature than another, as to the Truth, but as it differs in the Degrees or Measures; to some God is pleased to Communicate a greater measure, to some a lesser Measure of Gifts and Graces, that one and the selfsame Spirit Divideth to every Man severally as he will, 1 Cor. 12.11. We see here these seven Bonds are the true Bonds of the true Members of Christ, his Body, the Church; and are here mentioned and laid down by the Apostle as strong Reasons and Grounds why all the Members should endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, and not Divide and Separate one from another, seeing they are all Members of one Body, and have but one Spirit among them all, and have all one hope, all of them but one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, all but one God and Father; here is good Reason than they should be one among themselves, in Unity, Peace, Love, Fellowship and Communion one with another, as Opportunity serves. So that the Author above mentioned hath little Reason to boast of that kind of Unity that is among the Quakers, if he consider these things. Sixthly, 6. The Quakers Patience. The Author of the strong man Armed cast out, further tells us, That the Patience and Faithfulness of these People in doing and suffering the Will of God, is Remarkable; for the World is against them, though (as he says) they are the only Innocent and harmless People upon the Earth; and because there is more of God amongst these People (the Quakers) than others, therefore are they hated of all Men, and every where amongst all Religion's evil spoken of. Answ. In Answer whereunto, I say, That Patiented suffering for Welldoing is very Acceptable with God, and shall certainly have a great Reward from God; the Apostle Peter saith, 1 Pet. 3.14. If ye Suffer for Righteousness sake, happy are ye; But there is a Suffering sometimes for Evil do, and Evil say: And it is better if the Will of God be so, that we Suffer for well doing, than for evil doing, v. 17. Now, it is true, These People (the Quakers) have been Sufferers as well as others; but for what have they Suffered? Has it been for well doing, for doing the Will and Work of Christ? They will say Yea, for doing the Will of God; but it follows not therefore that it is so: Christ will rather say unto them, who Required these things at your Hands? Nay, he hath forbidden them, your False Doctrines and Opinions, your Disowning, Despising, and Separations from the Precious People of the Lord, in all the Societies, Assemblies, and Congregations in the Land, your Disturbing of them, and Railing against them, whilst they are about the work of the Lord, ye yourselves being drawn, or driven by the Seducing Spirit, have done his work, (and not the Lords work) and have sometimes Suffered for it: And herein ye boast, and think your Patience is great, and that ye suffer according to the Will of God: But know, That it is not the Suffering, but the Cause that makes a Martyr: It is possible a Man may give his body to be burned (and that is more than to be Imprisoned) and yet not suffer for Righteousness-sake. 1 Cor. 13. Though I give my Body to be burned, and have not Love, it profiteth me nothing. Jesuits and Papists have sometimes suffered for their false Principles and Practices; and so may others, and so have you. Therefore speak no more of your Patiented sufferings, until ye know that ye Suffer for a good Cause, for well doing; until ye Suffer for Christ, and for Righteousness-sake. Thus I have gone through the several particulars, wherein the Author of the strong man Armed cast out, says, He and the People called Quakers, do Excel all other Professing People in the World; wherein it appears to all Men that have in them the Spirit of God, how grossly these People are Deluded and blinded by seducing spirits, that they give heed unto; which making strong Impressions in their Minds, they are Seduced, and carried away with them, never Examining of them, and Trying of them by the Scriptures, and so are easily Deceived. And it is a most dreadful Condition that they are in, and an Evidence of the greatest, and sorest Judgement of God, that the Nature of Man is capable of, on this side Hell; a Judicial blindness and hardness of heart, upon any Man, or Men, is the greatest of all Judgements. And this is the punishment that God often lays upon Men that will not hearken unto him, that Despise his Word and Ordinances, his Worship, and his People: That will not Receive the Truth in Love, that they might be saved. Therefore God doth send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lie; that they all might be Damned who believe not the Truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness. That which doth confirm this man, James Jackson, A false Persuasion of Conversion. (Author of the strong man Armed cast out) that he is truly Converted by the Light within, which he says, is Christ, is this; for that he finds such wonderful Effects in himself, (as he Accounts them) he is now become a New Man, he is turned from Darkness to Light, and from the power of Satan unto God; he is turned from all his former Profane, Wicked, Debauched course of Life, as he tells us, and also from being a Parish Priest, and not only so, but he is also turned from being a Teacher among the Independents, and since come to join with the Quakers: And now he tells us, he is where he would, and should be; and concludes he is turned to the Lord: And counts it a Marvellous thing that any should Deny the Light in every man to be Christ; Strong Man Armed, p. 14. but say, it is the Devil, or at best but the Light of Nature: But (saith he) it was never known, that the Devil, or Nature did ever turn any to the Lord. Answ. For Answer hereunto, I say it is true, it was never known, that the Devil, or the Light of Nature did ever turn any to the Lord. And here now is another Trial of thy state, (and all others that are of thy Principles and Practices:) Ye take it for granted, that ye are turned to the Lord by Harkening to, Obeying, and Believing in the Light within; for thy part, James Jackson, thou hast given no Proof, nor Evidence at all according to Scripture, or the Experience of the People of God, that thou art yet Converted to the Lord: whereby any Man that is Taught of God, should be persuaded, that thou art truly Converted to the Lord: That which thou dost Manifest to all, and which thou thinkest is a ground sufficient to persuade them to believe that thou art a New Man, (and which it seems is enough to satisfy thyself) is this, because thou art turned from Profaneness to a more Civil Life; and hast also left several sorts of Professors, and now closed with the most Holy, Innocent People upon Earth; yea, the only People of God, for so thou hast said of them. But let us further Try these two things by a true Touchstone, and Weigh them in the Balance of the Sanctuary: The one, The Light within, of what sort it is: The other, the Effects of this Light, what it produceth in men. And for that Causes are often Difficult to be known and discerned, immediately, in and by themselves, it is best to Try them by their Effects, that which they produce and bring forth; by which we may come to know of what Nature the Cause is. So then; This Light within, thou sayest, The Light within Converts none to the Lord. (and wouldst have all Men to Believe) hath Converted Thee and many Thousands to the Lord, of the People called Quakers; but we are wholly left without any Proof, Sign, or Evidence, that you are Converted to the Lord: Nay, on the contrary, we see many Proofs and Evidences, that thou and they are not yet Converted to the Lord, as have been already (and more yet shall be) Discovered, whereby it will be made plain and manifest, that thou and they that are of thy mind, are utterly mistaken and deceived concerning both the Cause and the Effect: That is, ye are mistaken utterly concerning the Light within, and the Fruits and Effects of it, in, and amongst you. As for Thee, James Jackson (Author of the strong Man Armed cast out) it is plain and manifest to a Spiritual Eye, That thou art yet in the Gall of bitterness, and in the Bond of Iniquity; for certainly, The Tree is known by its Fruits; a good Tree cannot bring forth bad Fruits: By the Fruits of Trees we know of what Kind or Nature the Tree is that brings them forth; dost thou doubt of this? thou needest not, if thou dost but remember who it was that said it; and all Agree, and know it is a Truth. So then, Thy Fruits Discover thee to be a very Corrupt Tree, bringing forth sour, bitter, poisonous, deadly Fruits; Thy Grapes are Grapes of Gall, thy Clusters are bitter: And the like are the Fruits of the Leading Quakers amongst you: Thou and they bring forth False Doctrines, Errors, Heresies, and Blasphemies against God, his People, and his Truths; ye give heed to Seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils, speaking Lies in Hypocrisy, which I shall plainly Discover in several particulars. First, Thou sayest of many thousands of the Lords peculiar People, Strong Man Armed, p. 12. That they Build not upon the true Foundation, Jesus Christ, but that the Teachers of all other Sects, and sorts of Professors amongst the Presbiterians, Independents, Baptists, and others, they ever Rejected, Disallowed, and set at nought this stone, this true Foundation, which is Christ in us the hope of Glory, and Build upon some other false Foundation. Now, let me tell thee, thou false Tongue, set on fire of Hell, hadst thou the true Light in thee indeed (as thou sayest of thyself) thou wouldst sooner have chosen to have had thy Tongue cut out, than to have spoken this Lie in Hypocrisy: Or to have had thy Hand cut off, than to have wrote it: For if it be better for a Man to have a Millstone hanged about his Neck, and to be cast into the Sea, than to Offend one of those Little ones that believe in Christ; what thinkest thou will be the punishment of him that Offends many thousands of those Little ones? Yea, when the Offence is so high, that he Reproacheth, Slandreth, and Blasphemeth them, and their Lord and Saviour in them; for he hath said, He that Despiseth you, Despiseth me: Inasmuch as ye did it to one of these my Brethren, ye did it unto me: Thou Reproachest the true Light in many others by the Real Darkness within thyself: And if the Light that is in thee be Darkness, how great is that Darkness? O it is very great and gross Darkness. Consider these words, Natural Light is Spiritual Darkness. and who spoke them, it plainly appears from these words spoken by Christ's own Mouth, that the Light in Men, all unregenerate Men, is but Darkness: It is Real Natural Light, the Light of Reason, Understanding, and Conscience, which yet as to the apprehending of Spiritual things, is but Darkness: for the Natural Man (though never so Wise and Rational) cannot see, nor Discern the things of God, in a Spiritual manner; and such a Light within thou hast, and mistakest it, for the true Light Jesus Christ, as is manifest by the Effects, as was said; for Christ the true Light cannot Reproach his own People, nor the work he hath wrought in them, as thou dost; therefore thy Light is Darkness. Nay further, have we not good grounds to Believe, that the Darkness in thee, and many others of your Leaders, is more than that Common, Natural Darkness, that is, upon the Minds of all unregenerate Men. There is cause to believe that it is a Judicial Darkness and Blindness, as was upon the Minds of many of the unbelieving Jews who Rejected Christ and his Gospel, after all his Teachings and Miracles among them: Such a Darkness as the Prophet Isaiah speaks of; Make the Heart of this People fat, and blind their Eyes, that seeing they may see, and not perceive: Not that God put in any more blindness into men's minds, but withholds his Grace, and denies his Spirit; but permits the Evil Spirit, the god of this unregenerate World, to blind the Minds of them that believe not, lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them. And seeing that the Light of the Gospel does shine so Gloriously in this Day, and ye Reject it, and Despise it, we have cause to be persuaded you have in you this double Darkness and Blindness, notwithstanding all your Pleading for the Light within: Ye know not what ye say, nor whereof ye Affirm. Thou and thy Friends (as thou callest them) do quite mistake that Scripture, This Scripture, John 1.9. grossly Mistaken. whereupon ye ground your Opinion and Persuasion concerning the Light within, John 1.9. This is the true Light, that Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World. Thou and they put a meaning and sense upon it, though in other Scriptures brought against you, ye disown all meanings; yet here ye make use of a meaning, but it is a false one: For it is not said, that Christ the true Light, is in every one that cometh into the World, but that he Lighteth every one that cometh into the World. Take then the very words, and the genuine sense is plainly this: That Christ the true Light, doth Light every one that cometh into the World, and That in two Respects: First, by an Outward Light; and Secondly, by an Inward Light. The Outward Light is by the Sun in the Firmament, with the Moon and the Stars, this Outward Light all Men and Women have that come into the World, in all Nations, Tongues, and People: Secondly, Christ enlighteneth them by an Inward light also; by the Light of Reason, Humane Understanding, and Natural Conscience; by these Lights also he Lighteth every one that cometh into the World, according to that Scripture aforementioned: And so much (and no more) is intended by it, as it concerns every one that cometh into the World: He is called the Father of Lights, having Created divers Lights of several kinds. But now, as it concerns Believers, the peculiar People of God, the true Light Jesus Christ, enlighteneth them with another Light, besides the former, which none but they only are partakers of: The other Lights are but Darkness to this Light; yea, the Scripture calls them Darkness, in Comparison of this true Light, Jesus Christ himself, the Son of Righteousness, when he arises upon the Soul he makes things manifest and clear, which before were hid in Darkness, 2 Cor. 4.6. God, who Commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness, hath shined in our Hearts, to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. But as for the Wicked and , all unbelievers, (which are the greatest part of the World) they have not this Light in them (as thou, James Jackson, and the Teachers among the Quakers do affirm, and contend earnestly for:) But they are of the Number of those which the Holy Ghost saith, by the Mouth of his Servant Paul, in 2 Cor. 4.4. The god of this World hath blinded the Minds of them that believe not, lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ (who is the Image of God) should shine unto them: Look well unto it, that ye be not of the Number of these blind ones, blinded by the Seducing Spirit, which is got into your own blind Minds, and which ye call, and Blasphemously say, is Christ the true Light in every Man. And verily, this is one sad Sign, that ye are indeed of that very Number, even because ye disown the Gospel of Christ, the Scriptures of Truth spoken by Christ himself, and by the Holy Ghost: Saying and Affirming they are not the Rule to Christians in Faith and Obedience; neither do ye submit to have your Spirits Tried by them, but trust to the Light within, which is but Darkness, as to Seeing and Discerning of Spiritual things: For Spiritual things are Spiritually Discerned. And know, and consider this, That if the Gospel of Christ be not Received, and submitted unto, but Neglected, or Rejected, than it is hid from such: And in such a Case, the Apostle Paul saith, 2 Cor. 4.3. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid from them that are lost, whom Satan hath blinded, lest it should shine unto them. Thou, The Quakers Doctrine is directly contrary to the Scriptures. James Jackson, and other Teaching Quakers, teach that Christ, the true Light, is in every Man and Woman in the World; But this is directly contrary to plain and positive Scripture: For before Conversion and Regeneration, all Men and Women are in Darkness, and Darkness in them; yea, are Darkness itself, in the Abstract, Eph. 5.8. Ye sometimes were Darkness, but now are ye Light in the Lord; Walk as Children of Light. And 1 John 2.8. Darkness is past, and the true Light now shineth: Heb. 10.32. After ye were Illuminated, ye endured a great Fight of Afflictions. Paul knew that all Men were in Darkness, and Darkness in them: And therefore his Preaching was to turn them from Darkness to Light, and from the power of Satan (the Prince of Darkness) to the Living God: Yea, our Lord Christ himself, the true Light, saith, John 1.46. I am come a Light into the World, that whosoever believeth in me, should not abide in Darkness; plainly implying, that before Men Believe they abide in Darkness. And again, he saith, John 12.35. Yet a little while is the Light with you, Walk while ye have the Light. Now, if Christ had been the Light still remaining in them, in every one, (as the Quakers Teach) Christ would not have used these words, Yet a little while is the Light with you; walk while they have the Light: It's like these Quakers would have Answered him boldly, (and Ignorantly enough) We have the Light within us; it is always in us, and with us, and abides in us, and in all Men and Women in the World: Go whither thou wilt, for we have the Light within us still continually: For certainly these Men would no more have owned him, nor his Doctrine had they been contemporaries with him, than they own him now in these Days: And we know they have Denied him, both in his Person, and in his Doctrlne; as appears Manifestly in their Books and Writings, besides Denying of him, in Denying his Members. It is Evident then, That the Teaching Quakers do Deceive the Poor, Ignorant, Simple People, their Hearers, with this Doctrine about the light within, and speak concerning it directly contrary to the Doctrine of the Scriptures: And these poor simple People (silly Women, as the Apostle calls them) 2 Tim. 3.6. finding, and perceiving there is some Light within that Discerns some things to be good, and moves unto it, and on the contrary, denies some evil things, and will not consent to known Evils; They do hereupon conclude, that this is Christ the true Light, according as they are Taught, not understanding the Difference between Natural Light and Spiritual Light, no more than their Teachers, and so it passeth for a currant Doctrine amongst them, though it be most Absurd and false, and manifestly contrary to the Scriptures. Do ye not know that there is a Conscience in every Man and Woman, Conscience is a Natural Light. and that it is a Light according to its Nature? it hath so much Light, as not only to see and know Earthly things, according to Reason and Humane Understanding; but also some things according to the Law of God, Rom. 1. to see, and to reprove for some gross evils and sins; As Murder, Theft, Drunkenness, Bestiality, Deceitful deal, and such like things against the Light of Nature; which also the Law of God forbids: And this Light within every one does move unto some things that are Morally good and Honest, Reproving, and Troubling for the one, and Excusing for the other: But this Light can never lead to Christ without the Spirit of God, and the Word of the Gospel, which Reveals Christ fully: Therefore give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are Gods. Ascribe unto Conscience the things that belong to Conscience, and unto Christ that which is his own: Set not a Creature in the Throne of the Creator; and by Worshipping an Idol, forsake the Living and true God. It is true, Christ the true Light, is really in Believers, and in none else. and a glorious Truth indeed (a precious Privilege of the Saints, and peculiar People of God,) that Christ dwells in them; and this is a great and Glorious Mystery made known unto the Saints: (only Believers) as we see, Col. 1.16, 17. Even the Mystery which hath been hid from Ages, and from Generations; but now is made manifest to his Saints, ver. 17. To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery, among the Gentiles, which is: Christ in you the Hope of Glory. Here is a glorious Mystery revealed to the Gentiles, that they should now come in, and be of the Church of Christ, the poor Gentiles that never were called before that time: the Gentiles, who were formerly Excluded (in all the Generations before those days) they are now made fellow-heirs with the Believing Jews: And this Rich and Glorious Privilege is also revealed to them: Christ dwelling in them by Faith, by his Spirit, and all his graces, and operations, communicating his Nature to them, that they are as really partakers of the Image of the second Adam, in righteousness and true holiness, as they were of the Image of the first Adam in sin and darkness. But what is this Privilege to the wicked, and unregenerate world, that lie in sin, and darkness? what Communion hath light with darkness? what fellowship hath Christ with Belial? Will Christ Dwell in the Soul where the Devil Dwells, and Reigns? Nay verily: If Christ come to dwell and abide in any Soul, and be a light unto it, he will surely cast out Satan, that Strong man Armed, that keeps the house (as Satan does in all wicked men) and Satan shall Reign, nor keep house no longer but Christ will remove him, and come in his place, and Reign, and Rule, and Dwell there; and by his Presence, and Dwelling in the Soul, will give to such a believing Soul, sure grounds of hope of Eternal Glory: according to this word; Christ in you the hope of Glory. And seeing the Teachers among the Quakers, The Scriptures are the Word of God. do slight and undervalue the Scriptures and deny them to be the Word of God, and to be a Rule for Christians in Faith and Practice; and prefer their own Fancies, and vain imaginations (moved often by seducing Spirits) before the written Word of God, let us consider the tendency of this strong delusion. The Apostle Paul writes to the Romans, Chap. 15.4. Whatsoever things were written aforehand, were written for our Learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. The Church of God was for a long time without the Scriptures, God teaching his People immediately by his Spirit, or by Angels, mixed with some Providential dispensations, but when he had gathered his Church and People out of Egypt, he was graciously pleased to instruct them by a plain written Word, to be a perfect, standing Rule, both for Faith and Practice; And required (upon divers sore Penalties on the one hand, and Rewards and Promises on the other) that they should observe them. And those that were Godly amongst them, took diligent heed thereunto, and great delight therein: How did the holy Prophet David (a man after Gods own heart) prize and value the written Word of God; (though he had but a small part of the Scriptures, to what we now have) as we see in all his Psalms, more especially in the 119. Psal. almost in every verse of that long Psalm, he makes mention of the Law of God, his Statutes, Ordinances, Judgements, Precepts, and Commandments, how he loved them, delighted in them, meditated in them; O how I love thy Law; it is my meditation continually; he aimed at the keeping, and practice of them, as at a mark; and tells us it is the nature, and property of all good men so to do, Psal. 1. The godly man meditates in the Law of God Day and night. But now these Teachers and Leaders of the Quakers, they express no love to the Scriptures, but the quite contrary; they 'Slight, and Undervalue them, and teach others to do so too; and deny them to be a Christians Rule of Faith and Practice, though spoken by Christ himself in his own Person, (a great part of them) who is truly God, as well as Man; and the rest inspired by the Holy Ghost, who also is God. Yet these Unreasonable and Unthankful men, deny them to be the Word of God, though spoken by God himself: We have much of the Scripture spoken, by Christ's own mouth, and all was given by inspiration of God, Holy men of God, spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and is not the Holy Ghost God? How then are not the Scriptures the Word of God? Are not these men infatuated that will not own these things. When the believing Thessalonians had heard the Word of God, spoken by Paul, and received it effectually, he thanks God for it; for this cause thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the Word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth the Word of God. And when any one would draw us to hearken to any Private Spirit, as of old they did (and so now) we are commanded by God, not to hearken to them, Isaiah 8.20. but we are directed to the Scriptures: To the Law, and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them: And Isa. 8.9. Lo they have rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them? So then; here we see plainly they that speak not, and writ not according to the Scriptures, they have neither wisdom, nor Light in them. Consider this, ye deluded People among the Quakers, that give more heed to a dim, natural light within (darkened also by deluding spirits) than to the Light of the Scriptures, though the Sun of Righteousness shine Bright, and Gloriously in them. The Apostle John hath marked out such men, for wicked men 1 John 4.6. We are of God; he that knoweth God, heareth us, he that is not of God heareth not us; hereby know we the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of Error. What can be more plain? hereby than it is Evident, what sort of men these are in this Generation, who will not hear the Prophets, and Apostles speaking by the Spirit in the Scriptures: he that will not hear Us is not of God: but on the contrary, he that heareth us, that is, obeyeth us, and is ruled and guided by that which we have spoken and written, he is of God, and is guided and taught by the Spirit of God, which God hath also given to them that believe. And farther, This truth is also spoken by our blessed Lord and Savionr Christ himself, even from his own mouth: Joh. 8.47. when the Proud unbelieving Jews (such another proud, self-conceited People as are now in our days) would not receive his doctrine, he tells them plainly what they are, ver. 47. he that is of God, heareth Gods words, ye therefore heard them not, because ye are not of God. Tremble, and Quake at this Dreadful word, ye seduced People of the Quakers, who will not hear, nor be guided by the Scriptures, the written, and declared word of God: Ye are here pronounced by Christ's own mouth, his Prophets, and Apostles; that ye are not of God: That is, ye are not born of God, ye are not born of the Spirit: for that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit: ye are not regenerate, ye are not believers; ye are no members of Christ: ye are not taught of God, nor led by his Spirit, but by a false Spirit. When Paul wrote to Timothy he commended him for that he had known the Scriptures from a child, which were able to make him wise unto salvation; 2 Tim. 3.15. And says, that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness; ver. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. But these men are so far from being furnished to all good works, that they are reprobate to every good work: they having castaside the Scriptures, they can never be furnished any other way, to any good Work. Let us consider how great a favour it is from God that we have the Scriptures; The Scriptures are Gods Love-letters to Mankind. which are Gods Love-letters to Mankind; indicted by his own Spirit, and written by his own servants, to woe them, and win them to accept of his own, and only beloved Son in marriage: that there may be a Contract, and an everlasting Union between them: and so they may become the Spouse of Christ, the Lamb's Wife; And that although they have no Beauty, nor Comeliness upon them, yet that he will accept of them, notwithstanding their Deformity, if they will but but consent to the motion. And Oh who would not consent, to such a wonderful condiscension in the Great, and Holy God, to such poor miserable creatures, as we are, blind and deaf, deformed, foul, and filthy, poor, and needy, wanting all things that might make us acceptable in his eyes! But though it be so, yet he hath promised that he will make us Comely, and Beautiful, and Rich, with Ornaments, and a Crown of Glory, and no good thing shall be wanting to them that love him. Therefore (all these things considered) let us have the Scriptures in high esteem; and walk by them, for we shall be judged by them at the last day. But what a sad case are they in then who deny them as a Rule to walk by, and disown them? And if so great a curse shall be the portion of those who take away any part of the Scriptures, as that God will take away their part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy City, and from the things that are written therein, Rev. 22. what shall we think will be the Portion and Punishment of those, who take away all the Scripture at once, and make it as a void thing; and deny them to be a perfect Rule to Christians of Faith, and Obedience; and do instead thereof direct men to a blind guide, that had need of a guide itself; for that it sees nothing of the true way, the truth, and the life, without the Scriptures? Now because the spirit of God who indicted the Scriptures, Characters of false Prophets whereby they are known. and spoke by the mouth of his holy Prophets and Apostles, and Christ himself also in his own person, hath told us, That false Prophets and Teachers should be in the later days, and should seduce, and deceive many; And so subtle shall their carriage and their Doctrine be (like their Teacher) that they shall deceive (if it were possible) the very Elect; And because also we know that these are the last times, the last days, even these days wherein we live, in which days these false Teachers (foretold) should come; it is our duty therefore, and it highly concerns every Christian to try the Spirits, because even Now many false Prophets are in the world among us. Let us consider and examine than, who these false Prophets and Teachers are; how they may be known; What Marks and Characters there are set down in the Scriptures whereby these men may be known: for the Spirit of God hath marked them out, whereby they may be discerned from other men; even whereby they may be known to be the very men foretold, that should come in these last days. Our Lord Christ hath bid us take heed of them, Luk. 13.23. Behold (saith he) I have foretold you of these things. Let us therefore consider some particulars, as marks of these men. First then, that in the Epistle of Paul to Tim. 1 Tim. 4.1. Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the later times some shall departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing Spirits, and Doctrines of Devils. 1. Some shall departed from the Faith; 1. Departing from the Faith. Now what kind of Faith is here meant; it is not a true and justifying faith, for that none can departed from; but it is a Temporary Faith, some shadows and fancies resembling faith; such a faith as our Lord Christ speaks of, Mat. 10. They believed for a while, but in time of Temptation fell away. 2. They also cast off, and departed from Historical Faith; for they regard not what is written in the Scriptures, either concerning Faith or Practice. And it is not so with these Men of whom we speak; consider, and Judge. They give heed to Seducing Spirits, 2. Character: they give heed to Seducing Spirits, and Doctrines of Devils. and Doctrines of Devils. This Mark and Character is also seen conspicuously and plainly upon the Teachers among the Quakers; yea, so Evident is it, as if written with a Beam of the Sun. Now, what Doctrines do the Devils Teach, when they are permitted of God, (for his Secret ends) to use the Tongues of Wicked Men? we may be sure his Aim and drift will be to Preach against Christ, 1. Against Christ. to darken his Glory as much as he can; both in his Humane and Divine Natures; and in his Merits, Works, Sufferings, Righteousness, Satisfaction, Reconciliation, Benefits, and Privileges that he hath wrought, and brought unto his People. These things are manifest in several particulars, in their Books and Pamphlets. And Secondly, 2. Against the Scriptures. Another particular of the Doctrine of Devils, which he will be sure to Teach his Disciples, it is to weaken, or Destroy the Authority of his Word, the Scriptures, the Gospel of Salvation; by which, Truth and Error may be known and proved: For if he once Destroy the Rule and Measure of Doctrines, (so that Men do not try them by a known, plain, fixed Rule) than he knows Men may Preach, and pretend their Fancies, and vain Imaginations, and obtrude them upon others, as most certain Truths. And hath he not Taught the Men of this Generation this point of his Devilish Doctrine? Do they not slight and Despise the Scriptures, the Word of God; and Offer, and prefer their own vain, Idle Fancies, instead of the Scriptures; even the Men of whom we are speaking, the Teachers among the Quakers? This is evident and clear to the Eyes of all who are enlightened by Christ, and by the Scriptures. Thirdly, Thirdly, Against the Church. As the Doctrines of Devils are against Christ, his word, and Gospel, so also against his People, his Church, all his Members; they shall be sure to be Cried down, Slandered, Despised, Reproached, and Condemned, as Hypocrites, in all that they say, and do, in, and about the Worship of God, in his Ordinances which he hath appointed, for as the Devil hath great spite and Malice against the Head, so also against the Members. Now, do not the Quakers deal thus with the Lords People at this day? This is another particular point of the Doctrine of Devils, which the Seducing Spirits have Taught those who give heed unto them; how have they cried down (with a Blasphemous Noise every where) all the Congregations, Assemblies, and particular Churches of the Saints, of all persuasions, without exception of any; as being all in Darkness, in Babylon, and set up themselves as the most Holy, Innocent People; yea, the only People of God upon Earth. Fourthly, Another of the Doctrines of Devils, is this: 4. Resting upon their own Righteousness. When he hath done all he can to darken, and hid from his Disciples the true and only way of Salvation by Christ, Revealed in the Gospel, and weakened the Authority of the Scriptures, and the Credit, and Esteem of his People: Then he introduceth and brings in something of a Mans own, instead thereof, (that he knows is insufficient, and will fail) in Order to Salvation: That is to say, Man's own Righteousness, Obedience, and works, and puts them upon trusting to these, and so Return again to the Old Covenant of works, and to neglect the New Covenant of Grace; which course he knows is the ready way to Destruction. And he doth this with the more Efficacy in the minds of Wicked Men, because it is a Remnant of Corruption, even in the Minds of Good Men, of all by Nature; there is something of this remaining in the best, a Secret esteeming; and over-valuing of something of their own; which is seen in the clear Light of the Spirit, and confessed by all but the Quakers, although they have it in them most of any People, yet through the Darkness of their minds they see it not, neither will own any such thing, but tell us, they own, and witness Perfection. Having mentioned these four particulars, which are the Chief Points of Doctrine which the Seducing Spirits do Teach those that give heed unto them: I shall now proceed to he rest of the Characters, which the Apostle plainly sets down by the Directions of the holy ghost, whereby false Teachers may be known; as we see, ver. 2. Speaking lies in Hypocrisy; having their Consciences seared with an hot Iron. Now, The Third Character of false Teachers: Lies in Hypocrisy. it is easy to mention many lies in Hypocrisy, which the Quakers are guilty of: Whereby this Character is deeply stamped upon them, and made manifest to all. This is one Lie in Hypocrisy; That Christ the true Light is in every Man and Woman that cometh into the World, First Lie in Hypocrisy. and that if they give heed unto, and Obey the Light that is in them, it is a sufficient Guide unto Salvation without the Scriptures. I say, This is false Doctrine, and a Lie in Hypocrisy: Christ doth not dwell in Wicked, and Ungodly, Impenitent sinners; the Devil dwells in them, and Rules, and Reigns in them; he Ruleth in the Children of Disobedience, Col. 1. What Concord hath Christ with Belial, Eph. 2.2? Christ often stands at the Door, and Knocks, if any Man hear his Voice, and open the Door, he will come in, Rev. 3. but not otherwise: See the Arguments against this falsehood. Secondly, 2. Strong Man Armed cast out, p. 12. This also is another Lie in Hypocrisy; That the Quakers build upon the true Foundation, Jesus Christ, and all other Professing People Build upon some other false Foundation. This is a double Lie in Hypocrisy, both as to themselves and other Professing People; many of them (I will not say all) do professedly Build upon a false and Sandy Foundation, which certainly will fail, i. e. the Light within every Man and woman that come into the world; and that is not Christ, but a Creature: There is a Natural Light we know in every Man and Woman, Reason and Conscience, but it is not Christ; he Created it, as all things else in the World, but what Comparison between the Creator and the Creature: This is at large spoken to elsewhere. And concerning other Professing People, though many of them (it is to be feared) do Build upon false Foundations; yet sure we are, many thousands of them do Build upon the true and only Foundation, Jesus Christ: This Lie then is against those who Build upon the true Foundation. Thirdly, The Third Lie in Hypocrisy. Strong Man Armed, p. 13. This is another Lie in Hypocrisy, That they, (the Quakers) have a true Faith; that Faith whereof Christ is the Author and Finisher: but the Faith of all others is an unholy, dead, Imperfect Faith, it Sanctifies but in part, and so will never save to the utmost. This is thus proved to be a Lie: There is no true Faith but it is known by its Fruits, works, or Effects, it Purifies the Heart, and works by Love; Love to God, Love to all his People, to his word and Gospel, to all that is of God, and from God. Now, it is very Manifest by the Fruits that the Quakers bring forth in their Doctrines and Conversations, that they have not the Faith of God's Elect; it is but presumption, a shadow of Faith, whereof the Devil is the Author, their Instructor in other Doctrines also. And it is likewise (on the other side) manifest, that Multitudes of other Professing Christians (whom they Despise) have true, saving, Justifying Faith; by the Fruits and Effects of it, in their Hearts, and in their Lives and Conversations. Fourthly, The Fourth Lie in Hypocrisy. Strong Man Armed, p. 13. This is another Lie in Hypocrisy: They say the Knowledge that the Quakers have is a Spiritual and experimental Knowledge, by Divine Revelation: But the knowledge of the Priests and Pastors of all other Religions in the world, is but Ignorance, they know not Christ, but call him Devil, or at best, the Light of Nature. This is thus proved to be a Lie, and that a double one: Many of the Teaching Quakers are very Ignorant, even of the very Principles of the Doctrines of Christ, they were never Taught of God, we perceive it plainly by their Discourse and writings: O the wonderful Darkness and Blindness that is upon their Minds! A thick vail of Ignorance, as all Natural, Unregenerate Men have: but their Veil is double; Natural, and Judicial. The Natural Man hath not the knowledge of Christ, nor of the things of God, he cannot know them (in that state) because they are Spiritually Discerned and known, 1 Cor. 3. These People know not the true Light Jesus Christ, they know not the difference between Natural Light and Spiritual light, but give and ascribe that to the Creature, which properly belongs only to the Creator: They know not the way of Justification by Christ, but Blasphemously slight it, as we find in their Books: And Teach that Men are Justified by their own works, directly contrary to the Scriptures, whereby at once, they deny Christ, and the whole Gospel, and the whole Design of God in the Covenant of Grace. They know not how to Distinguish or Discern between the Suggestions and Inspirations of a Seducing Spirit, and the workings of the Spirit of God in men's Hearts; neither do they know, nor give to their Hearers any Directions how they may Try the Spirits, whether they are of God or not, but plainly bid them Harken to the Light within, give heed unto it, and follow it, and it will lead them to Salvation, which gives wonderful Advantage to Satan, the Seducing Spirit, to work in their minds, even what he will, seeing they have no way to Discover him, he being Transformed (at such a time) into an Angel of Light, and in many things resembles the Spirit of God: And those Ignorant Teachers know no way how to discern him, having slighted and laid aside the Scriptures, whereby one Spirit is known from another, being destitute also of the Spirit of God: So that (upon this very Account) both they, and their Ignorant, simple Hearers, are under strong delusions, giving heed unto Seducing Spirits; and thence it is that their Teachings, Books, and Pamphlets are so false, and so directly contrary to the Truth of the Scriptures: And yet we see they boast of their Knowledge, and esteem themselves more Wise and Knowing than all others. Fifthly, The Fifth Lie in Hypocrisy. Strong Man Armed, p. 14. Another Lie in Hypocrisy is this: The Quakers say, their Humility does far exceed all others; it is the emptying themselves of all their own Righteousness, Wills, Wisdom, and self-exaltation; and is a Real, Inward, Spiritual abasement, and subjection to the Life, Power, and Kingdom of Jesus Christ. But O how contrary to these words, (nothing but words) are all their Doctrines and Declaring to the People, and in all their Pamphlets, if we compare one thing with another! For they do but deceive their simple, unwary Hearers with a flourish of some good words and expressions, now and then, that so they may the more readily Receive the deadly Poison that is mixed therewith: They sometimes Profess in words that they own Christ and the Scriptures, but in deed and reality they deny both; as is abundantly proved against them, and made manifest unto all. And in this very particular Lie in Hypocrisy, this that I say appears plainly: For whereas he here says, they are the most humble People, in that they empty themselves of all their own Righteousness, Wisdom, and Self-exaltation, and have in them a real, spiritual Abasement and Subjection to Christ; whereas the quite contrary appears in the Substance of their Doctrines; Witness Edw. Burrough's Works in Folio, p. 33. where he says plainly, God doth not Accept any, where there is any failing, or who do not fulfil the Law, and Answer every Demand of Justice. So William Penn, Sandy Foundation, p. 29, 30. Obedience to Justification (saith he) ought to be as Personally extensive as was Man's Disobedience to Condemnation: In which Real (not Imputative) sense those various terms of Sanctification, Righteousness, Resurrection, Life, Redemption, Justification, etc. are most Infallibly understood; for (saith he further) Impute, or Imputing signifies no more in Scripture, but to express Men Really and Personally to be that which is Imputed to them, whether as guilty, or remitted; for (saith he) any to be Justified from the Imputation of another's Righteousness, is both Ridiculous and Dangerous, whence came that usual saying amongst many Professors of Religion; That God looks not upon them, as they are in themselves, but as they are in Christ. We see now here plainly what Doctrines the Teaching Quakers bring forth; and how much it savours of Humility and Self-abasement, according to this great Lie in Hypocrisy . This their Doctrine shows they are swelled with Pride; to the very highest pitch of Pride, that Self-love (and Satan to blow it up) can raise them: Here they Account themselves perfect, and able to Answer every Demand of Justice, and will not be beholding to Christ for the Imputation of his Righteousness; this is the Humility of the Quakers. But O Miserable Creatures are they! and more Miserable are they yet like to be, whose Humility is the height of Pride, and whose Righteousness is nothing but the grossest sin and wickedness, and who have not the Righteousness of Christ Imputed to them, which is the Righteousness of God, and perfect, as well as Inherent Righteousness, Created of God, but yet imperfect. This Doctrine of theirs is a gross Lie in Hypocrisy, and the Grand Doctrine of Devils; and therefore let it be accursed; yea, I say again, let it be accursed for ever. And as for the Teachers of it, they shall be accursed also, except they Repent. The Grace of Humility hath the quite contrary Effects; it Teacheth Men to have a low esteem of themselves, and when they have done all they can in the ways of Obedience, to account that yet they are but unprofitable Servants. This Humble Spirit was seen in Paul, who, though he were a great Apostle, yet he accounted himself less than the least of all Saints; yea, and teacheth all others to be of the same Mind: In lowliness of Mind, let each esteem other better than themselves, Phil. 2.3. How far then are these Men from true Humility? Sixthly, The Sixth Lie in Hypocrisy. Strong Man Armed, p. 15. Another Lie in Hypocrisy, is this: They say, their Patience is Invincible, to them is this Grace given, The World hath been against them, not for their own sakes, but for Christ's sake in them, though they are (he says) the most Innocent and harmless People upon Earth. Now, whether this papears to be Truth or a Lie in Hypocrisy, may appear by their Speeches and Writings, wherein they express and manifest much Bitterness of Spirit, Wrath, Anger, Malice, and Impatience, as is in their frequent foul, harsh Language, that proceeds from them, both by their Tongues and Pens, against those who do Converse with them, or ask them questions, Soberly, and Modestly, with a real desire to be Resolved; or that ask them a Reason of the hope that is in them, or of their persuasions about such or such things; Their Answers ought to be given with Meekness and Love, That they may satisfy those who ask them, according to Truth: But instead thereof they commonly pour out harsh words and speeches, like those Enemies of David, Psal. 64.4. They whet their Tongues like a Sword, they bend their Bows, and shoot their Arrows, even bitter words. Witness Edward Burrough's Works, p. 20, 21, etc. against a Servant of Christ, ask him serious questions, he Answered in such Language as this, (which others also of their Teachers do likewise own, and approve of.) To all, or most of the questions he mixeth this Language, The Quakers Railing Accusations. (and many Expressions to the like purpose) in his Answers. Thou Reprobate, and Child of Darkness; we witness thee to be in the Sorcery and Witchcraft, thou Dragon; thy queries are Conjured in the Black Art, out of the Bottomless Pit; thou Diviner, we witness thee to be the Beast; thou Antichrist, who looks at Christ's Death at Jerusalem alone; thou Jesuit, art pleading for Christ afar off thee, thou art Accursed; thou Beast, to whom the Plagues of God are due: Thou Blind Hypocrite, thou Cain, thou full of Subtlety; with the Light thou art seen, and with the Life thou art Judged and Condemned. These words were poured out, with many more such like Invectives against him the Querist, and others from time to time, as Men have conference with them. But are these the Fruits and Evidences of Patience; which they boast of, which they say they have attained above all other Professing People? Then what is Impatience, Wrath, Bitterness, and Anger? Are not their Tongues set on fire of Hell, and moved by the Devil, who brings the Fire from thence, and kindles it, and blows it up to a great Flame? Nay doubtless, they are not only Pinched, and vexed by serious Questions, and sound Scripture Arguments, but also even cut to the Heart, as the Jews were against Stephen, when he dealt truly and plainly with them, as we see, Acts 7.54. When they heard these things they were cut to the Heart, and they gnashed on him with their Teeth: So these Men they are vexed and Angry, when they are Opposed, and cannot Answer, they are Pinched, and cut to the very Heart, which they show and manifest by such speeches as these aforementioned; for out of the abundance of the Heart, the Mouth speaketh. These I say, are Lies in Hypocrisy: This than is another Character plainly seen upon the Quakers; whereby compared with the rest of the Characters, spoken by the Holy Ghost, they are manifested to be the false Prophets that should come into the World in these last days. In this day is this Scripture fulfilled: The false Teachers who were foretell expressly by the Spirit of God, that they should come in these last days; even now are they come in this Generation: They are Departed from the Faith, they give heed to Seducing Spirits, and Doctrines of Devils; they speak Lies in Hypocrisy, having their Consciences seared with an hot Iron; which is the next Character to be Discovered. Fourthly, The Fourth Character of false Teachers: Their Consciences are seared with an hot Iron. Another Character whereby false Prophets & Teachers are known, which the Spirit of God tells us of, is this: They have their Conscience seared with an hot Iron, 1 Tim. 4.2. This Expression, seared with an hot Iron, taken properly, is a Similitude of what is done Spiritually, in and upon the Consciences of some more than Ordinary notorious sinners, under a Judicial, as well as Natural hardness of heart, Blindness, and Reprobate sense; unto which Judgement God sometimes gives them up, for refusing to Receive and Harken to the Truth, often tendered, and Discovered to them; with some other Notorious sins. For as Natural Flesh seared with an hot Iron, is thereby made hard, dead, and insensible; so as it will not receive any Impression, nor is sensible, as soft, tender, lively Flesh is; so it is with the Consciences of some Men, which are seared, they have no Spiritual sense, nor feeling of spiritual things; but are dead, and hardened, blind and deaf, as concerning the things of God, of which those Christians that have tender Consciences, and soft hearts, have a clear sight and sense of. Men whose Consciences are seared with an hot Iron, they do think, apprehend, and believe, (and that strongly too) many things that are quite contrary to the Truth; both as to Reason and Faith: which things they speak and write accordingly. Secondly, Another Sign, or Evidence of those whose Consciences are seared with an hot Iron, is this: They will Reject and Despise all plain Truths in Scripture, as being contrary to their Corrupt Natures, Principles, and Interests, though they are never so much concerned therein, and though brought, and tendered to them with never so much Love, and earnest desire for their good and welfare; yet these things take no Impression upon their hearts, no more than upon a stone; they remain still the same, and no good is done upon them by any means. Nay, Thirdly, (as another Evidence of a seared Conscience) The means used to Reform them, does the more harden them, and makes them the more Desperate in sinning; which is seen in their many Imprecations, Revile, Slander, and bitter Reproachful speeches, which proceed from them, against those that would do them good. Now, is it not hereby Evident and plain, That very many of the Quakers are under this Judgement, of having their Consciences seared with an hot Iron: So that this Character is also plainly seen upon them, as is made manifest particularly by their Speeches, Books, and Practices. Fifthly, Another Character of false Teachers, The Fifth Character of false Teachers: Denying the Lord that bought us, etc. or rather their Names spelled out at length, with all the Letters that make up their Names plain and Legible to all who have clear fight, and walk in the Light: These are Named, and set down largely and plainly, both by the Apostle Peter, 2 Epist. 2.1, 2, etc. and the Apostle Judas joins with him; see his whole Epistle. 2 Pet. 2.1. But there were false Prophets among the People, even as there shall be false Teachers among you; who privily shall bring in Damnable Heresies, even Denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift Destruction. Ver. 2. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of Truth shall be evil spoken of. And now before I speak to the particular Characters, The Apostles Peter and Judas both agree in the same Characters of false Teachers. or Letters, whereby (being joined together) we may spell out their Names; let us consider this thing, which is of great weight and moment, to the Business in hand, viz. That the Apostle Peter spends a whole Chapter in deciphering, and marking out these false Teachers, which should come in these latter days: And so doth the Apostle Judas also spend his whole Epistle to the same purpose, concerning the very same Men, both of them Agreeing in the selfsame particular Characters, Letters, or Marks, whereby they are known, as we may see in the particulars following. First then: The Apostle Peter saith, 2 Pet. 2.1. There shall be false Teachers among you, who privily shall bring in Damnable heresies. 1. So Judas, to the same purpose, ver. 4. There are certain Men crept in unawares, who were of Old Ordained to this condemnation, men, etc. 2. Secondly, Both brand them with this Mark, or Character, ver. 1. Denying the Lord that bought them. 2. So Judas, ver. 3. Denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 3. Thirdly, Both note their Pride and Presumption, in Despising Government, and speaking evil of Dignities: The most Eminent, and chief Persons, both in Church and State, Exalting themselves above them all. 3. 2 Pet. 2.10. They Despise Government, presumptuous are they, self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities. 3. So Judas, ver. 8. They Despise Dominion, and speak evil of Dignities. Fourthly, Both the Apostles note their height of Pride and Presumption, in Despising Persons of greatest Worth and Eminency, both in Church and State, i. e. Dignities. They both set out their Pride and excessive Ambition by way of Aggravation, telling us, That even the Angels of God, which are far more Excellent Creatures in Wisdom and Power than Men; yet even they do not bring Railing accusation against men, in any case; no, nor against the Devil: But these (with an Emphasis) as Natural Brute Beasts, speak evil of the things they Understand not; so that hereby is the sin of these Men Aggravated and heightened, who do frequently in their Pride and Displeasure bring Railing accusations against good Men, that Oppose their false Doctrines, as is already particularly showed. 4. 2 Pet. 2.11. Angels which are greater in Power and Might, bring not Railing accusation against them before the Lord. 4. So Judas, ver. 9 Michael, the Archangel, when contending with the Devil about the Body of Moses, durst not bring against him a Railing accusation; but said, The Lord Rebuke thee. 5. Both the Apostles Mark them out by this Character, 2 Pet. 2.17. These are Wells without Water; Clouds carried about with a Tempest. 5. So Judas, ver. 12. Clouds they are without Water, carried about with Winds. They are Wells and Clouds without water, shows and shadows without Substance, Husks and Shells without Kernels, having some Form or show of Religion, Godliness, and Christianity, but not the Power, the Life; no Real, or true Grace or holiness; no water of Life from the pure Fountain of Life; they have not the Spirit of Life, which in Believers is a Well of water springing up to Eternal Life; but these are as Clouds without water, carried about with the winds of Temptations, i.e. Secret impulses of seducing spirits, that hurry them to and fro, of their Errands and Business; and then they Cry, it is from the Light within. 6. A Sixth Character. Both the Apostles say, They are in the way of Balaam: 2 Pet. 2.15. They have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam. 6. So Judas, ver. 11. woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the Error of Balaam for Reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. The Apostle says, They have gone in the way of Cain; it's true, Cain slew his Brother: Now, these Men, though they rise not against any with Material Weapons, yet their hearts rise against their Opposers, as appears in that they whet their Tongues like a Sword, and shoot out their Arrows, even bitter words, like David's Enemies, Psal. 64.4. In that sense they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the Error of Balaam: And as the Apostle Peter also saith, they are gone astray, following the way of Balaam. Now, what was the way of Balaam, the Error of Balaam? Was it not chief, in that he went so contrary to the known Will and Word of God; the Will and Mind of God was plainly, and often made known unto him; that he should not go to Curse the People of Israel, the Lords People: It was plainly and manifestly made known and Revealed unto him, and yet he would go, contrary to the plain revealed Will of God; which was the most Desperate Madness and Folly that could possibly be: The Apostle calls it Madness, 2 Pet. 2.16. The dumb Ass speaking with Man's Voice forbade the Madness of the Prophet. Now, these Men, the Teachers among the Quakers, have gone in the way of Balaam, and do still go and run greedily, earnestly after the Error of Balaam: In that the Mind and will of God is plainly and fully Revealed, and made known unto them in the Scriptures; and which hath been often, very often Declared, and proved by the clear Light of the Gospel, by many of his true and Faithful Messengers and Ambassadors, sent of God, and Taught of God, and have the mind of Christ, and have made it known unto them, and yet so Blind, so Ignorant, so Desperately mad are they, as that they go on still in the way of Balaam, after the Error of Balaam in this Desperate Madness and wickedness, as Balaam did in his, Directly against the plain and clear word of God Revealed in the Scriptures; as hath been fully proved in many particulars, by many that have pleaded against them, and manifested their Errors: And it may well be supposed also, that many of them run greedily after the Error of Balaam for Reward, or Advantage, being Tradesmen, and great dealers in worldly affairs, they may have Respect to the Recompense of Reward or Profit (in a quite contrary sense to Moses' choice) in Trading one with another, and making Advantages that way; for I am sure they have no true Spiritual inducements to go on in that way; but all are to turn them out of this way of Balaam: But they blindly go on, or are drawn, or driven, or carried as Clouds in a Storm or Tempest, as the Apostle saith. The Apostle goes on further, and says, They shall perish in the gainsaying of Core; for as Core, and his Company with him perished for Opposing, and Despising Moses and the People of the Lord with him, and setting up themselves against them (and in Opposing them, they di Oppose and Despise the Lord, in and among them) even so do these People now, they set up themselves proudly, in Opposition to all the Lords precious People in every place, and call themselves the only holy people of the Lord upon the Earth; and herein they go beyond, and above Core and his Company; for they did not deny but that Moses and others were holy, but they took too much upon them: Core and his Company would be Respected also, seeing all the Lords people were holy every one of them, and so they Murmured, and chid with Moses and Aaron, and said Proudly and Stubbornly, they would not come up, when Moses called them; they were very Obstinate, but yet gave no such Language, neither fell upon them with Railing Accusations, as these Men do against the Societies and Congregations of the Lords People: But Observe the Issue of all this; the Text saith, they Perished: Core and his Company Perished for their Pride, Gain-saying, and Resistance; and what can these Men expect, but sooner or later, though not suddenly, or in that manner as they? Yet hath not our Lord said, That it were better for any that a Millstone were hanged about their neck, and they cast with it into the Sea, than that they should Offend one of his Little Ones that believe in him, Mat. 18.6. What Punishment then must be for him, or those who Offend so many thousands of the Lords little Ones, and Peculiar ones, dear unto him as the Apple of his Eye? Who can tell how sore a Punishment such shall be thought worthy of, when the Lord cometh with Vengeance against his implacable hardened Enemies? 7. Seventhly, Both the Apostles Mark them out for Punishments when their sin is come to its full measure and height; and do assure us, That as God hath Punished and Destroyed other great sinners in former Days, so he will do to these also. 7. 2 Pet. 2.4. If God spared not the Angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell. And ver. 5. Spared not the old world, but destroyed it. And ver. 6. And turned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, making them Examples unto those that after should live ungodly. So these false Teachers. 2 Pet. 2.1. They shall bring upon themselves, swift destruction. Their Judgement lingreth not, and their damnation slumbreth not, ver. 3. So also Judas notes their Punishment as others have been. 7. Ver. 5. He destroyed the people of Israel that believed not, and Vers. 6. The Angels that kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the Judgement of the great day. Ver. 7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Cities about them, etc. are set forth for an Example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Woe unto them, etc. ver. 11. The Apostles both having instanced in these former great examples of God's wrath upon great sinners, would have us to know and be assured, that as these mentioned were punished, so also shall these false Prophets and Teachers, that are marked out with these Characters, as they have both of them mentioned; for they both intent, and set out the same men, as we see both agree, and mention the same Characters or Letters, which being set together, a discerning eye will read, and understand who they are when they appear in the world in these latter days. And as a further Assurance of their downfall and punishment, enoch's Prophecy of these ungodly sinners. besides what these two Apostles have told us; Enoch also the seventh from Adam Prophesied of these, saying, Judas ver. 14. Behold the Lord cometh with thousands of his Saints, to execute Judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodlily committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. We see here these ungodly men shall be called to an Account for all their ungodly deeds whatsoever: And in particular, for all their Erroneous and False Doctrines, Books, Pamphlets, and Writings, which have proceeded from them, wherein are so many hard speeches against Him, this great Him, even Jesus Christ Himself; The Quakers have spoken Hard speeches against Christ. who will shortly come to judge the world in righteousness. These men the false Teachers among the Quakers, have spoken many hard speeches against him immediately, and directly; and also against him mediately; that is, against his Members, his People, for inasmuch as they did so against any of his Brethren, they did it unto Him; But O how many hard speeches, blasphemous speeches have these ungodly sinners spoken against him immediately, and directly, in denying, and dis-owning of him, in his Person, in his Natures, in his Offices, in his Precious Death, Blood, and Sufferings, in his All-sufficient Righteousness, Satisfaction, and Justification, wrought for all believers; speaking slightly of him, as a Christ afar off, and at a distance, despising those that speak of a Personal Christ in Heaven; Owning not Christ but what they have within; and that's nothing but a blind, natural, defiled Conscience; which it seems can suffer them to blaspheme Christ now in Heaven, in glory, making intercession for all believers. Of many of these horrid, unheard of Blasphemies against Christ, see Edw. Burrough's Works in Folio pag. 33. 34. etc. Also Will. Penn, Sandy Foundation, pag. 29, 30. etc. These many hard, and blasphemous speeches spoken directly against our precious Lord Jesus Christ, he will shortly come to call them to an account for, and punish them accordingly: Yea, and for all the hard speeches spoken also against his people, who are dear unto him; it had been better for these men that a Millstone had been tied about their necks, and that they had been cast into the Sea, than to have offended them, and spoken so hardly and falsely of them, as they have done. They make no difference among Professors; they separate not the precious from the vile. These things are fully and at large set forth in three Dialogues between a Christian and a Quaker. By Tho. Hicks. And further yet, he brands them with another plain, The Quakers separation from Christ and his People proves they are no Christians. and notorious Mark, or Character, which is conspicuous to every eye, that by this Plain Character joined to all the rest, so visible also, these being joined and set altogether, we may spell their Names and their Natures so plainly, that we cannot mistake the men: for although there are other false Prophets and Teachers in the world besides yet they are of another sort; we must spell their Names, and know them by other Marks, Letters, and Characters. Now, this Character which yet follows in this Epistle of Judas, is in the 19 verse: These are they who separate themselves; sensual, having not the Spirit: Now, let it be well considered who they are that separate, and from whom they separate: There is a Separation indeed, that is not only good and Lawful, but also a Duty: There is a Command for it; but what is that Separation? We see it plainly, 2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 16, 17. Believers that were Converted by the Ministry of the Gospel, were Commanded to come out from among the Heathenish Idolaters, and not to be partakers with them any longer in their Heathenish, Idolatrous Worship, in Worshipping Idols, Wood and Stone, the works of men's Hands: But what is that Separation to this Separation? This separation the Apostle takes Notice of, as a very gross sin; and we see it is one of the Letters, or Characters of these Men of whom they speak, the false Teachers; who being guilty of all those great and gross sins, which these two Apostles (Peter and Judas) had newly mentioned; he now adds to them all another plain, broad, conspicuous brand, and sets it on with an Emphasis, These are they that Separate themselves; sensual, having not the Spirit. As if the Apostle had said in more words, The false Prophets that I have been now speaking of, and the many that follow their pernicious ways, ver. 2. These are they, these are the People who separate themselves; and from whom shall they separate? Even from the People of the Lord, the Churches, Congregations, and Assemblies of the Saints. Now, do not these Men so? Do not the Quakers separate themselves from all the Saints, from all the particular Churches and Assemblies of the Lords People, in all the Land, as if they were Heathens and Idolaters; and speak evil of them, and Reproach them with many bitter words and slanders. Witness James Jackson, (Author of the strong Man Armed cast out) in his Separation from the Churches of the Independents, who Reproaches the Pastors, and brings Railing Accusations against them, and many other of the precious Saints, even as the Apostles, Peter and Judas, do Declare as one of the Characters of these People, as hath been showed: And yet he glories in this his Separation, and Accounts it (as we see) as one special mark of his Conversion, that he is turned from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan (that strong Man Armed being now cast out) he is come to God, and to his People, who (as he tells us,) are the most Holy, Innocent People upon the Earth: And this his Conversion he ascribes to the Light within, which Light (as he also saith) hath Converted Thousands in like manner unto God; (yea, as he himself is Converted;) And counts it a Marvellous thing that those who think themselves Christians, should not Acknowledge this Light within to be Christ, the true Light, that hath done such marvellous things for him, and many others: But that they should call it Natural Light, or the Devil; he accounts this Blasphemy. But now, if we do but Examine this his and others Separation according to the Scriptures, and look upon it in the true Light indeed, we shall see and find, that it is so far from being a Mark, or Sign of their true Conversion (as he and they account it) that it is indeed a Mark and Evidence of their Carnal, Dark, Unregenerate state: And so the Apostle Judas Accounts it to be; and a Note or Character of the Ungodly Men, the false Teachers, which he had been speaking of, throughout his whole Epistle; And sets it on as a plain Mark for all People to see and take Notice of; These are they that Separate themselves, Judas 19 Yea, and the Apostle John joins his Testimony with him, to the same purpose, 1 John 2.18, 19 The Apostle here speaks of some in his time, that were like these very Men in our time; As we see, Little Children, it is the last time: And as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time. And he makes their Separation (as we see) a Character of their wickedness, ver. 19 They went out from us, because they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. We see here what separation from the People of the Lord, and their Assemblies is Accounted, by this Apostle also, he tells us plainly, it is a Mark or Character of wicked Men; That such as so separate are none of the Number of God's People, they went out, or separated from us, because they were not of us; they were none of Christ's Members, no Believers, as we are; they were not of us: For (saith he) if they had been of us, if they had been of the same Body with us, whereof Christ is the Head, than no doubt they would have continued with us, and not have separated from us; but it is so, they went out from us, they forsook us, and separated from us, that it might be made manifest, that such were not of us, that such were not joined to Christ, as we are. So then, what grounds of boasting this James Jackson, or any other of his Principles and Practice, have in their separations from the true Churches of Christ, (and join with a deluded, Ignorant People that Fancy themselves the only People of the Lord, as being Converted by the Light within) we leave to those who are Taught of God to Consider and Judge. Alas, Poor, Ignorant, A Lying Spirit is gone forth amongst the Quakers, which Seduceth them. Deluded Men! They Understand not, That a false, and Lying Spirit (or many) is gone forth among them, and hath Deceived them. If there were but this one Mark or Character, (though there are many more mentioned) yet it were enough of itself to Discover them, that they are led by a Lying, Seducing spirit, which hath persuaded them: That is, Their Disowning, and Reproaching so many Thousands of the Lord's People; Ministers and Ambassadors sent of God, Pastors of particular Churches and Congregations; all Professing People in the Land, yea, in the World, without exception of any. And although many that are called Ministers in the Land, and many Professors are grossly guilty of sin, and deny Christ in their Works and Do, which is to be Lamented; Must therefore all the Saints and true Members of Christ be Disowned, and Denied also, whereof there are many thousands? If these Men had the Spirit of God, and were enlightened, and led by him, they would make a Difference, and separate the precious from the vile; but they do not Distinguish between the Righteous and the Wicked, but Condemn them together, and so are Abomination to the Lord: So that thereby it is plainly seen, that they are not of God; that they are not as his Mouth to the People (as they pretend) Jer. 9 It is the Seducing Spirit, we may be sure, that doth belly, and Reproach the Lord's People, and his Works and Operations in them. By this, and other Characters , we may be as sure who the Men are, as if their Proper Names (whereby the World knows them from other Men) were Recorded in Scripture. For as the Lords People may certainly know that their Names are in the Scriptures, and are Written in Heaven, in the Book of Life (God's Eternal Decree, and Secret Counsel) by Seeing and Reading their Natures, Properties and Qualifications in the Scriptures, to which Eternal Life is promised: I say, they may know thereby that they themselves are the Persons, as certainly as if their Proper Names were there Recorded, whereby they are known amongst Men: So on the contrary, of Wicked and Ungodly Men, they are also known, in like manner, by their Natures, Properties, and Qualifications. We know who hath said, Births of the Spirit, and of the Flesh. That which is Born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is Born of the spirit, is spirit: We may know of what it is Born by the Birth that is brought forth: Satan he brood's upon the Carnal Spirits of wicked Men, and begets false Notions, Opinions, and Principles, we may know they are of his begetting by their Form and shape, when they are brought forth: Principles of Pride, self-love, false Notions, and other Deformed shapes, when they are Conceived, then after a while they are brought forth, they are born, they are Published and Declared; in Discourse, Preaching, Writing, or Printing; the Births of men's minds, their Fleshly, Carnal Minds are brought forth into the World; and they are so like their Father the Devil, that thereby they may be known who was the Father of them. So on the contrary, That which is Born of the spirit, is spirit; the spirit of God dwells in his People, and he daily works, and moves in them, he Inspires them with Truths, according to the Mind of God, which the Spiritual Mind Conceives, and brings forth in Prayer, Preaching, Discourse, and Writings; and these Conceptions are Born and brought forth into the World; to the View and Knowledge of all: And that which is thus born of the spirit, is spirit, or spiritual; it is Truth: According to the Mind of the spirit; for he that is joined to the Lord, is one spirit; one with him, of his Mind: The Saints are Unanimous, of the same Mind with God, as Wicked and Unregenerate Men are unanimous with the Devil; they are of his Mind, and he of theirs; for he Ruleth in the Children of Disobedience. The Devil speaks against Christ, and so do they; though they will own him in Words, in Form, in Show, and Pretence, yet in Deed, in Works, really, they deny him: The Devil will own the Scriptures in words, as he does Christ in words, and say, Thou art the Holy one of God; so will those who are one spirit with him, but will deny him really, and according to Truth. The Devil will own the Scriptures, and Argue from them, to attain his ends, but never to prove a Necessary Truth: So false Teachers are unanimous with him in these things; for he that is joined to the Devil, is one Spirit, even as he that is joined to the Lord, is one Spirit. How great then is the sin of these Men, Spiritual sins are greater than fleshly sins. who Conceive in their Minds, and bring forth the Births of the Devil; as all Doctrines of Devils are! Surely, These Spiritual sins are greater than fleshly sins; as Drunkenness, Gluttony, Adultery, Murder, etc. (If Robbery, or Murder of a Man be so great a sin, what is it to Rob God, and to Crucify, and be guilty of the Blood of Christ.) Though for these, and such like, when Men will not be reclaimed from them, God often gives them up to a Reprobate Mind, Rom. 1. Even so he does also for these spiritual sins, false Opinions, Doctrines, and Principles: Concerning Christ, his Natures, Righteousness, Merits, and the things of God, when they will not be Instructed, but hate to be Reform, and change their Mind, when they will not hearken to the Truth, but still resist it, disown it, contradict, and Blaspheme; when the Truths of the Gospel have been often Offered, and tendered to them, yet they will not hear, nor regard, but rather believe Lies, than the Truth, than God gives them up to strong delusion, to believe Lies, and to hearken, and give heed to seducing spirits: this is a very dreadful state indeed, they draw these spiritual Judgements upon themselves by these spiritual sins. The Quakers setting up this Idol, The Light within every Man and Woman, is a greater sin in them, than for Jezebels false Prophets to set up Baal, and Pray unto it, and trust in it, instead of the God of Israel. May it not (Ironically) be said to them, as Elisha said to those false Prophets, Cry aloud, for he is a god (as ye say) but he is but a Blind god, he hath Eyes indeed, but he cannot see; Ears, but he cannot hear; Hands and Feet, but he cannot move, to help, or do any thing for those who Trust in him, without help from another. If these Men will not be pleaded, nor persuaded out of their Vain, Ignorant, sottish Opinion of the Light within every Man and Woman, being Christ; let Men endeavour to Shame them out of it; for it hath not so much as a show, or shadow of Truth in it; but is plainly a most dreadful delusion of the Devil, and a great Blasphemy against Christ. This Opinion of theirs, The false Opinions of the Quakers spring from Pride and Ignorance. with other of their false Principles, springs from Pride and Ignorance: And this the Apostle Observes concerning such Men, 1 Tim. 6.3, 4. If any Man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness. Ver. 4. He is Proud, knowing nothing, but Doting about Questions, and strife of words, whereof cometh Envy, Strife, Railing, Evil surmisings. Ver. 5. Perverse Dispute of Men of Corrupt Minds, and Destitute of the Truth, etc. Such kind of men were also in the Apostle John's time, as we see Rev. 3.17. They were Proud and Ignorant; They thought themselves Rich, and had need of Nothing; whereas indeed they were poor and miserable, and blind and naked. It is our duty to discover these kind of people, to try them, and to make them manifest to the world as much as may be: for their false Opinions of God, of Themselves, and of Others, is no less than Blasphemy, Rev. 2.9. I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan, The Church of Ephesus is commended for this, That as they cannot bear these false Teachers, so also to discover them, to try them, and make them manifest to others, by Scripture Characters and Marks, by which they may be known: Rev. 2.2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; And thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles, and are not, and hast found them Liars. The Apostle speaking of deceiving and deceived persons, The Quakers deceive, weak and simple minds. he tells us, they shall not long continue thus to deceive; for their folly shall be made manifest to all men: 2 Tim. 3.8, 9 The Apostle by the Teachings, and Inspirations of the Spirit of God, having in the former verses told us, that in the last days perilous times shall come, That men shall be lovers of themselves, proud, boasters, blasphemers, etc. in the next verse he shows us a Token, and sets a Mark of distinction upon them: Of this sort (saith he) are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ver. 7. ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth. We see here, what sort of men are active to deceive; what they do privately, creep into houses; and also the subjects they work upon; by their cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (as the Apostle saith) That is, silly women, simple people, persons of weak understandings, and natural faculties; of shallow capacities, easily led away, with divers Lusts, and Errors; such kind of weak and simple minds are easily deceived: They know not how to distinguish between Truth and Errors; they are still Hearing and Learning, but are never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth: at least they are never able to come to the knowledge of some Truths, for some Truth's lie more deep than others. Some are more easy to be apprehended, than some others: some Truths are hard to be understood, as the the Apostle observes; which they that are unstable, pervert; yea, and they that are but weak, and shallow of understanding, do also pervert, mistake, misapprehend, and misapply. As for instance in this very thing; This Principle and Opinion of the Quakers, concerning the Light within: We know how they apprehend it; Their Teachers, and their hearers, they call it Christ: who lighteth every man and woman that cometh into the world; This Notion borders upon a Truth, and hath some small shaddowy resemblance of a Truth, but is not a Truth, as these weak people apprehend it. For there is a light within which sees, and works, and moves several ways, toward that which appears good, according as it apprehends it, and against what it thinks to be evil; now this herein hath some resemblance of Christ; and his Spirit: and so weak minds, silly men, and women, may think it to be so indeed; especially when they hear it positively, and plainly asserted, affirmed, and contended for, by men who have gained their affections, by their demure Countenances, modest behaviour, and apparel, and many good words, and fair speeches, with seeming zeal; they are thereby confirmed in this persuasion, that surely it is Christ indeed. But this persuasion cometh not of him that calleth us: Gal. 5.8. (as the Apostle here saith) but ariseth from weakness and ignorance; from the darkness of the understanding, helped on, and strengthened by that deceiver of deceivers, the seducing spirit; who is still ready, as to beget, so also to feed and nourish false Opinions, in the minds of all; as God permits him. Certain it is, Reason and Natural Conscience is a Light within, and discerns many things, both good and evil; and acts towards, or against them, accordingly; so far as it sees and discerns, according to the measure of Light that is in the Conscience: This is clear from Rom. 1. where the Apostle speaks of the worst of men, who had this Light in them, and therefore were inexcusable in going against it. This Light within, though it be not Christ, yet it was created by Christ, as all things else were, but it cannot go beyond its bounds; No more than Natural water can of itself, rise higher than the spring head, the light within cannot see Christ, nor the way, and means of Salvation by him, without the light of the Scriptures, and of the Spirit of God. But the Quakers are strongly confirmed, That the Light within every man and woman is Christ; let all men say what they will to the contrary: yet most certain it is that this Opinion of theirs, was begotten by ignorance, and is nourished and maintained by Pride: for they having asserted it, and so long stood to it, in upholding it; they have not the humility to retract, and acknowledge an Error, (though some may be secretly convinced that it is so) for it is Natural to men to maintain, and stand to what they have once owned and asserted; they are loath to stoop, and acknowledge ignorance, no not unto God himself, much less to Men. I am persuaded, There were never any Sect, or sort of People from the Creation of the World to this day, that were more irrational, and less spiritual than these People the Quakers are in all their Discourses, Principles, Books, and Practices; nor greater Enemies to Christ, his Gospel, and his People. As the Lord Liveth, who hath delivered me out of great Tribulations, and saved me from the hand of the Enemy, I will contribute my utmost abilities to throw down the Enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ, and these, and all Doctrines of Devils, and Lies in Hypocrisy, and whatsoever else shall Oppose him, or his Interest in the World. Now, The Quakers shall not long continue to deceive. this being manifest by all these Marks and Characters that have been mentioned, That these Men, the false Teachers among the Quakers, are the false Teachers spoken of in the Scriptures, that should come in these last days: The Apostle also tells us, that they shall not long continue to deceive, they shall be of no long standing, for their Folly shall be made manifest unto all men, 2 Tim. 3.9. The Apostle here compares them to Jannes and Jambres, two of Pharaoh's Magicians (whose Names are to be seen in some Ancient Authors) who withstood Moses in his time; so do these resist the Truth, Men of Corrupt minds, Reprobate concerning the Faith. These Teachers (Men of Corrupt minds) resist the Truth, a most dreadful sign of Reprobation; though the Truths of the Gospel are brought, and plainly laid before them, to turn them from the Error of their way, in their false unchristian Principles and Practices, yet they resist the Truth, they disown it, and reject it, and they that Offer it to them; and that with many reviling hard speeches against them for so doing: Like Swine they trample Pearls under their Feet, and turn again and rend you: Being Men of Corrupt minds, and Reprobate concerning the Faith; their minds are Corrupt, Carnal, Filthy, Defiled with false Notions, Erroneous Opinions, and Conceptions of things, according to their dark, carnal apprehensions, mixed also with Satan's false glosses, and deceitful appearances in their minds; and so they become Reprobate concerning the Faith: That is, without Judgement, or any true Understanding in Matters of Faith, according as the Scriptures have revealed them. But it follows, ver. 9 They shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be made manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. After they have done their work, and filled up the measure of their Iniquity, and fulfilled the Scriptures, what was foretell of them; then they shall be Discovered and made manifest, and that to all men, even to their own party also (as well as to others) who have been long deceived and seduced by them: they shall then fall off from them by degrees, and leave them, and forsake their meetings. They shall be known to be deceitful workers, their folly shall be made manifest, as theirs also was, that is as the folly of Jannes and Jambres, the Sorcerers or Magicians which deceived the People for a while with false shows and appearances of things which were not so in Reality and Truth; afterwards they were discovered to be but a Cheat, and deceitful workings. So these men with all their Counterfeit Coin and Deceitful Wares, which they expose and offer to People in the dark, and which they will not (by their good will) bring unto the Light of the Scriptures, which would make things manifest unto all; yet they shall in due time be brought to the Light; their folly shall be made manifest unto all. And is not this Scripture in a great measure fulfilled already, even at this day? The Men, these false Teachers, their Opinions, Principles, and Practices have been of late time, more than ever before, laid open, and their Folly, and gross Ignorance, and Errors made manifest unto all, and so will be still more and more. See three Dialogues between a Christian and a Quaker, by Tho. Hicks, where they are made Naked before all Men to their shame. God hath (of late time more especially) stirred up the Spirits of some of his People, to search into, and Examine their Opinions and Doctrines, and to try them by the Scriptures, spoken by God himself; and they find that these Men have spoken contrary to what God hath spoken: The Doctrine of these false Teachers is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ made known to us in the Gospel, they are detected, discovered, and made manifest to all, except some of their own Party, (Friends as they call them) who it's like are so Charmed by them, as that they will not hear, nor hearken to any thing that is said against them or their Principles, though spoken according to truth: Nay, they will not hear God himself speak, for they Neglect and Despise the Scriptures, and prefer their own simple Pamphlets before them. Now, Good Council to the Quakers. seeing these things are so, I shall in sincere Love and Pity to the Souls of these People, the Quakers, give them my Advice and Council according to Truth, whether they will hear it, or whether they will reject it; I am persuaded there are some amongst them who have true and real intentions and desires after the truth, to hear it, and to do it; and therefore there is some hopes of such, that if they would give themselves to search the Scriptures, concerning the Principles of their Teachers, and be earnest with God to give them his Spirit to Open their Understandings, they might clearly see the gross Folly and Errors of these Men; and that they would read other men's Books (wherein they are concerned) as well as their Friends Books: thereby also their Light within would be the clearer: But whilst they Neglect or Decline the means of knowledge, no marvel though they remain Ignorant, and are seduced. My Advice and Council is further, Leave the Quakers Meetings. That you would leave the Assemblies of these Men, separate yourselves from their Congregations and Meetings: Now is separation seasonable, according to the Scriptures, separate from them, because they have separated from Christ, and from his Church and People; they are gone from the truth, and are turned unto Fables; and they give heed unto seducing spirits, and Doctrines of Devils, speaking lies in Hypocrisy, having their Consciences seared with an hot Iron; so that they will not hear, nor hearken to the Truth as it is in Jesus. They slight and despise the Scriptures, and therefore what Light is in them, what Wisdom is in them? Nothing but Darkness and Ignorance, improved also by subtle seducing spirits, which (except they speedily Repent) will draw them down into the Bottomless Pit. And next I advise you, Come to the Assemblies of the Saints. Come and join yourselves to the Lord, and to his People; come into their Assemblies, Societies, and Congregations; there ye shall hear Christ truly Preached, and set forth according to the Gospel, whereby your minds may be enlightened to see the Beauty of Christ indeed, with all his Benefits and Privileges purchased for his People; and this may make you fall in Love with him, and to choose him for your Lord and Husband. O take heed of forsaking, or Neglecting the Assemblies of the People of the Lord, as the manner of some is; it is a very Dangerous thing. See the Consequences of it, which the Apostle tells us of in the 10. of the Hebrews, it is a Sign, or forerunner of that great sin, the sin against the Holy Ghost, as it is there set forth. Come then to the Assemblies of the Saints, for the Lord is among them, and in them, and Communicates himself unto them; he reveals his Mind, his Secrets to them that fear him. Ye are now in a dry and barren Wilderness, where there is no Water, no Water of Life, your Souls will be lean, and starved for want of Food, for want of the Bread and Water of Life, unless ye come unto him, that ye may have Life; your teachers themselves want this, having forsaken the Fountain of Living Waters, and run to broken Cisterns, which hold not a drop of Water. The Light within is but Darkness to the true Light Jesus Christ. Your Teachers themselves want water, being Wells without water, and Clouds without water, carried about with winds. Therefore come to the Fountain of Living waters, to the Fountain of Gardens, that waters all the Gardens, all his Churches, and every particular soul; and their souls are as watered Gardens, and as springs of water, whose waters fail not: For there is in them a Well of water, springing up unto Eternal Life. Come then, and be partakers of these Privileges; be one with Christ, and with his People; and ye shall be enlightened by Christ the true Light indeed, and Life indeed, who will guide you, and lead you into Green Pastures by the Rivers of waters; who will feed you with the Bread and Water of Life, unto Eternal Life. FINIS. THere are lately Published Three Dialogues Between a Christian and a Quaker, wherein are faithfully Represented some of the Chief and most Concerning Opinions of the Quakers; together with their Method and Manner of Reasoning in the Defence thereof. Also the Quakers Appeal Answered. All Written by Tho. Hicks. Sold by Peter Parker at the Leg and Star in Cornhill, against the Royal Exchange.