THE MALICE OF THE Rebellious Husband-men AGAINST The True Heir. Plainly discovered In this Brief REPLY TO THE Blasphemies, Lies, and Slanders, of Ra. AUSTEN.  
By JAMES JACKSON, Author of the Strong Man Armed Cast out, &c.  
Behold ye despisers, and wonder; for a work is wrought in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be  told you.  
And when they saw him, they said one to another, this is the Heir, come let us kill him, that the Inheritance may be ours.  
Printed in the Year 1676.   

Ra. Austen,  
I Regard not the Censures of wicked and unreasonable men, 'Tis the living God that searcheth and trieth my heart and reins; and since he justifies, who can condemns yea, and I am known to many Thousands in England, yet know I not one person that will, or at least justly can, accuse me of any one of those damnable practices wherewith thy Book is stuffed against me, who am a perfect Stranger to thee.  
But no marvel thou sparest not to traduce me and others, when thou dreads not to shoot so many envenomed Arrows against the manifest appearance of the Son of God, who is come the second time without sin unto salvation; and hath set up his Kingdom in the hearts of a Despised Remnant, and is Revealing his out-stretched Arm to all Nations, that the Inhabitants of the Earth may learn Righteousness, and partake of his Salvation.  
Now this is that which makes thee, and all the Merchants of Babylon angry, To hear of the great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls, That he is come to led and feed his Flock himself, And that the gathering of the People must be only unto him.  
This is that little ston which is smiting the Image, which though it be part Gold, part Silver, &c. yet his Feet are discerned to be mire, and day, with Iron, so not able to abide the day of his coming, but is falling, and shall be utterly overthrown by his power, though his first manifestation be counted as the day of small things.  
And therefore I say 'tis for his sake, that thou, and others like thee, are so full of indignation, blood, and revenge, against all that love his appearance.  
Nay, for thy part Ra. Austen, Thy Book bespeaks thee to be transported with inveterate madness, insomuch, That thou regards not what thou writest against him or us, nor how thou belies and contradicts thyself.  
I have perused it, but will not trouble the Reader, nor myself, with the many absurdities, impertinencies, tautologies, lies, contradictions, and blasphemies, therein abounding; but hint only some few particulars, that all men may see how thou hast belied us, contradicted thyself, and blasphemed our principle, which is the everlasting truth of God.  

p. 6.  Thou writes thus, I shall not speak to reproach thee, or rail upon thee, or any of thy way; I say( saist thou) I will not bring against thee railing accusations,( well spoken Austen) but are not these fair speeches of thine lies in Hypocisie,( to use thy own words) which thou so often and falsely chargest upon us.  

Ep. to R.  For thou calls me as dangerous a person, with as subtle insinuating as thou ever yet met with: That in my Book entitled, The strong man armed cast out, I assert and maintain a false principle, viz. That the true light is in every man and woman, and is sufficient, being believed in and obeied, to bring them to Salvation, and, That whosoever will not receive and own this Doctrine, are accounted by me, Enemies to Christ; and then charges me with lies in hypocrisy and Blasphemies, because I assert this principle, and calls me uncircumcised Philistine, that do challenge and defy the Hosts and Armies of the living God, the Churches and Congregations of the Saints.  
To which I reply, The Scriptures bear Testimony, That Christ is the true Light, that enlighteneth every man that comes into the world. So that there is the Light of Christ in every man and woman: and this is no more a natural light, then the life of Christ is a natural life. For 'tis said, in him was life, and the life was the light of men; so that the light in man proceedeth from the life of Christ.  
2. But where in all my Book before name dost thou red these words, viz. That the true Light is in every man and woman, although a measure of it, I affirm, according to Scripture, hath shone in, and appeared unto, all men; and is sufficient for Salvation.  
3. They that receive not this Doctrine are Enemies to God, and to their own Souls: For this is the Condemnation, that Light is come into the world, but men love Darkness rather then Light, because their deeds are evil.  
4. I will here appeal to the Consciences of men, and to the witness of God in thee, whether thou or I be that bold daring presumptuous Philistine, that defies the power and followers of the Living God.  
Thou art indeed Angry with, and engaged against the King of Saints, the true and rightful Heir, who is come to take possession.  
Wo unto thee Austen, for thou art one with those Husbandmen, who despise the Heir, and therefore conspire against him to keep him out of his Inheritance; for where he comes to inherit, thence immediately parts all Babylonish trash and trumpery, deceit, sorcery, and witchcraft, and every unclean thing, Then down falls the False Prophet, the hireling Priest, yea, and begging Priests too.  
There will then be no more Sale for their wears and merchandise, Then all false Births, Paintings, Images, dead Forms, and outward Worships, must all tumble into the dirt. And this is the reason why Thou Ra. Austen and Tho. Hicks, who thou so often quotes, &c. are so full of fury and indignation at his appearance in the hearts of men and women at this Day.  
Here thou chargest me and others in these words, 
p. 66.  Thou art( saist thou) in the gull of bitterness, and bond of Iniquity. Thy Fruits discover thee to be a very corrupt three, bringing forth sour, bitter, poisonous, deadly fruits. Thy grapes are grapes of gull, and thy clusters 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 truth; ye give heed to seducing Spirits, and Doctrines of Devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy. And to make this good, cites my Book p. 12. and saith, that I say, of many Thousands of the Lords peculiar people, That they build not upon the true Foundation Jesus Christ, &c. And then Austen breaks forth into a great rage, and saith in these words, Now let me tell thee thou false Tongue, set on fire of Hell, hadst thou the true Light in thee indeed( as thou saist of thyself) thou wouldst sooner have chosen to have had thy tongue cut out, then to have spoken this lie in hypocrisy, or to have had thy head cut off, then to have wrote it; For if it be better for a man that a millstone was hanged about his Neck, and to be cast into the Sea, then to offend one of those little ones that believe in Christ, what thinkest thou will be the punishment of him that offends so many Thousands. So far Austen.  
Rep. 1. Are not these reproachful speeches, and railing accusations both against me and others, contrary to thy word? Art thou not now Ra. Austen, guilty of Lies in hypocrisy.  
2. But what ails the man to be in such a hear, sure something's the matter more then ordinary, for ye don't find him throughout his book to be so outrageous as in this place.  
3. Because therefore he hath neither fully nor fairly cited that particular of mine, which occasions this fret, and doth so vex him, that instead of propounding solid arguments against me, he runs into most bitter invectives, I shall introduce that particular at large, for the clearing of Truth, the satisfaction of the Reader, and stoping the mouth of this peevish Enemy, my words are, These, having plainly declared the reason of my departing from those Assemblies, I shall witness faithfully to the truth, as it is known and practised by the holy People of God called Quakers, with whom I now walk, and of whom I declare and testify, That they are built and rooted in and upon the right Foundation, even Christ Jesus the Lord, who is their Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, in whom alone they are justified and saved, That Root from whence they receive life, nourishment, power and growth, is the only Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, the Rock of Ages, the ston which your Builders and their Brethren the Priests, ever rejected, disallowed, and set at nought, which is Christ in us, the hope of glory; whereupon it is evident, That we differ in the Root from all the people of the World, though of several forms and persuasions; for plainly the Papists, Prelates, presbyters, Baptists and independents, though they all differ in their Forms, Appearances, and circumstantial Opinions, yet do they all agree, and meet in one and the same Faith, Foundation and Root.  
The word and writings, declarations and testimonies of the Saints recorded in Scripture, are the foundation and ground of all other professing people in the world( as they pretended) and all of them being Strangers to that one Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures, are ●un into several Sects and Opinions, as they do carnally understand and conceive they have Rule and Teaching in the Bible; but however they will own no other Light, Law, Gospel, Rule, Revelation, and word of God, but their Bibles, [ viz. for their Foundation and Rules,] But now this peculiar people, whom the Lord hath gathered from amongst all the Babylonish confusions and divisions under Heaven, are built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Corner ston, in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth into an Holy Temple in the Lord, so that they receive immediate Light, Life, Power, Rules, Refreshing, Revelation, Peace and Satisfaction, from that word which was before the World was made, even that Life, Power, Foundation, Root, Spring, and Fountain, in and by which the holy Prophets and Apostles were quickened, enlightened, anointed, inspired, and gave forth the Scriptures, which is Christ Jesus the word of God, the power of God, the Son of God, the Light within, the only Saviour of the world.  
Now I desire the Candid Reader to observe these two things betwixt me and mine adversary in hand. 1. How disingenuously and impertinently he answers my Assertions. 2. How this last recited particular shakes him at Root, and occasions such a great Commotion in his Spirit, that like the troubled Sea, he casts forth nothing but mire and dirt; but I have not done with him yet.  
Rep. 4. But pray thee Ra. Austen, how ill does this become thee thus to scandalise and reproach the Leading Quakers, 
P. 66.  as thou calls them, I say, how ill does this become thee to call those spreaders of false Doctrines, Errors, Heresies, &c. with thy Pen, whom thou hast justified and commended with thy Tongue, and at the same juncto, thou went to most meetings of Friends in London, and heard several Friends declare; nay, after thou hadst heard Alexander Parker, thou went to him, and discoursed with him, and came and  told B. clerk, Stationer in George Yard Lumbard-street, how sound thou found this Parker, and how well thou liked such and such, and could willingly join with them. Ah thou self-condemning Pharisee, what kind of dissimulation is this; who speaks Lies in hypocrisy like unto thee? wilt thou charge others with dissembling, against whom thou canst prove no evil, and prove thyself such a Cheat, such a deceitful deluding soothsayer, as no civil society of men will tolerate.  
But to proceed: This Author tells us, 
P. 77. P. 23.  That the Scriptures are Christs love Letters to Mankind, of the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures( a strange and unscriptural expression) Well, but he brings it in often, and speaks of the Scriptures Revealing of Christ; 
P. 25.  and how can a man know Christ, or believe in him, but by the Scriptures. A light to our paths, yea to our inward paths; 
P. 27. P. 75.  And the trier of Spirits, and the word of God; but chargeth us, that we slight and undervalue the Scriptures, and teach others to do so too; and therefore calls us unreasonable and unthankful men, and infatuated.  
Rep. 1. There's no people that I know upon earth, whose principles, Lives, and Doctrines, are more consonant to the holy Scriptures then ours.  
2. We esteem the Scriptures as a true testimony of Christ.  
3. We slight not nor undervalue the Scriptures, neither do we teach others so to do; for they are of special service unto us in many cases; and serve also for the commending of our principles, live, and doctrines, to the Consciences of men, nevertheless we prefer Christ before them, 
Rev. 19.13  for he was before them, and his name only is called the word of God.  
But Ra. Austen, wilt not thou believe that thy Bible( if thou hast one) is made up of Creatures? If so, why then, like the unbelieving Jew, dost thou think in it, or from it, to receive the Spirit or Revelation of Christ, or that therein thou shalt have everlasting life; I tell thee thy persuasion is unscriptural, irrational, and Idolatry; for he only that hath the Son hath Life, but he that hath not the Son of God, hath not Life, though he have an hundred Bibles.  
5. If the Scriptures be Gods love Letters to mankind, Then why do the teachers of your several Societies make merchandise hereof, and sell them up and down the Countries, as Mountebanks deliver out their wears for ready money: And when they have made up a parcel thereof, as the Apothecary dispenseth his Bills, will sell a parcel of their own composing, for 5 10 or 20 l. per parcel, and to another place with the same parcel, and make as much more of it, and yet say these are Christs Love Letters to mankind, when in truth they use them to guile and cheat the simplo of their money, whereby some Families, to my observation, have been so fearfully Priest-ridden, that they and their posterity have been utterly impoverished.  
6. As for the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures, 'tis such an expression as the Bible gives no warrant to credit. I red of the Spirit speaking in men, but never heard of the other before. In fine, this I affirm, That the Spirit of God speaketh neither through thee, nor in thy Book; for the Scriptures say, no man speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus Christ accursed; neither can any call Jesus the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.  
7. In the last place, As to the preceding matter, I reply, and desire the impartial Reader to take notice, That the Scriptures do not testify of themselves, or bear witness for themselves, but the whole scope and tendency of them is, to direct to another object; yea, let me come near to you, they point mankind to a living inward principle, to an inward Law, to an inward Temple, an inward Word and Worship, to an inward Teacher and Comforter, and to an inward Kingdom, &c. as will more fully appear to thy satisfaction, if thou consul but these few, instead of many.  
The word is nigh thee, saith Moses, even in thy heart, &c. so Ro. 10.8. 
Deut. 30.14. Job 6.31.   
Is not my help in me, saith Job, and is wisdom quiter driven from me.  
And, saith he, why persecute you me without cause, seeing the root of the matter is in me. chap. 19.28.  
There is a Spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding, 32.8.  
The Law of his God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide. 
Psal. 37.31 51.6.   
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden parts thou shalt make me to understand wisdom.  
Thy word have I hide in my heart, that I may not sin against thee. 
119 11. Prov. 4.23.   
Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.  
Isaiah, Jer. Ezekiel, and other the Prophets, spake of Gods giving his Spirit, and putting it in man, and of writing his Law in their hearts, &c. So Christ in all his Doctrine and Parables, directed to an inward Spiritual Worship, &c. 
Luke 17.21. Rom. 1.19  And expressly  told the Scribes and Pharisees, That the Kingdom of God was within them,  
And saith Paul, That which may be known of God is manifest in men; for God hath shown it to them.  
He is not a Jew that is one outwardly, 
2.28  neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew that is one inwardly, and Circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit, &c.  
For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness, 
2 Cor. 4.6.  hath shined in our hearts, to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ: but we have this treasure in earthen Vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  
Examine yourselves, prove your own selves, 
2 Cor. 13.5.  know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates.  
Wherefore laying apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, 
Ja. 1.21.  receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your Souls.  
We have also a more sure word of prophesy, 
2 Pet. 1.19  unto which ye do well to give heed, as to a Light that shines in a dark place till the day down, and the day-star arise in your hearts.  
Now it is evident from these, as well as from many other plain Scripture testimonies, That there is an inward manifestation of God, and the Scriptures say, whatever makes manifest is Light: And Peter in the last recited text saith, they do well that take heed to this inward manifestation; and calls it, the sure word of prophesy, a Light that shines in a dark place. Now what place is more dark then the hearts of natural men; nevertheless, the Light shines in that darkness. And where any give heed to it, though its first appearance be very small, yet there, and in them only, that have respect unto this Light, doth the day of God down; and in their hearts only doth the bright and morning Star arise with healing under his wings: so that although a measure of this saving Light be universally dispensed into the inward parts of mankind; yet they only that are found in the well doing Peter speaks of, that is, taking heed thereto, shall receive saving benefit thereby: For though we own, and the Scripture bears witness with us, That there is an inward worship, The word nigh us, The Law written in the heart, and the Light within; yet we say, what are any hereby the better, that love not this inward Law, that heed not the Light within, and are not in that worship which is in spirit and truth. But lets see and consider a little what Ra. Austens sense is touching this inward principle, or the Light within.  
See his Book page. 11. What Saul did against Jesus of Nazareth, was from the Light within.  
P. 28. It is but Nature, it is not Grace.  
P. 45. An Idol, a false Christ.  
P. 67. The Light in men, all unregenerate men, is but Darkness, it is real natural Light, the Light of Reason, Understanding, Conscience.  
P. 108, 109. Compares it to Baal, and bids cry aloud, for he is a God, but he is but a blind God: He hath eyes but he cannot see, ears but he cannog hear; hands and feet but be cannot move.  
P. 30. The Light within shall be in Hell for ever.  
From p. 45. to 55. Draws up, planteth and levelleth ten pieces of Ordinance against this Idol, this false Christ, The Light in every man and woman, that so it may fall as Dagon before the ark: with a great deal more like unto these.  
Rep. 1. Unto whom I Reply, Many have uttered great Blasphemies against the Truth, and acted in a high presumption against Christs appearance; but in my time, and to my knowledge, this I will say of thee, thou hath exceeded and out-done 'em all.  
2. If what Saul did against Jesus of Nazareth, was from the Light within, whence then were those pricks that he kicked against?  
3. Here I'll show thee how absurdly thou contradicts thyself.  
page. 109. Comparing the Light within to Baal, thou saist, he is a blind God, he hath eyes indeed but cannot see, ears but he cannot hear, hands and feet but he cannot move.  
page. 111, 112. Thou saist, there is a Light within, which discerns many things both good and evil, and acts towards or against them accordingly. It sees, and works, and moves several ways towards that which appears to be good, according as it apprehends it, and against that which is evil, according to the measure of Light that is in the Conscience, which the worst of men have in them, and therefore are inexcusable in going against it.  
Let the Reader judge how much confounded thou art in this matter: But this is nothing with thee who heard Friends declare, bought Friends Books, and justified their Doctrines and Principles to Ben. clerk, and yet hast forged those Lies in thy Book against us and our principles.  
4. These 10 pieces of Ordinance as thou calls them, and hast planted and leveled them against the Light within; I shall tell thee, they are not of Gods planting, neither hast thou leveled them against a tottering wall, but against that name only which is a strong Tower, even the Rock of Ages, wo unto thee Austen, for thou hast undertaken a most fearful, unprosperous, and self-destroying enterprise.  
No weapon that ever yet was formed, or that at any time for ever hereafter shall be formed against it, shall prosper; and every tongue that riseth against it in judgement, will God condemn.  
5. And who but such an Impostor as this Austen, nay, who but men infatuate, would trouble themselves, and take such pains to draw all their Forces out against that they call a Creature, an Idol, a God that is no better then Baal, then Dagon; I say what needs all this wast labour, Did not Dagon fall before the ark without any of mans help. And if the Light within were not of God, it had fallen of itself long before now.  
But I assure thee, thou and all thy partakers will find it that burdensome ston against which ye shall weary and wear out yourselves in vain. Neither your black Mouths, your paper Guns, nor the gates of Hell, shall ever prevail against it.  
In Fine, To what end is all this clamour, outrage, and Blasphemy against truth, but to prejudice peoples hearts against the appearance of the Son of God: For whom this is my Testimony, That as sure as the Spirit of God did inwardly strive with wicked sinners in the old world.  
As certainly as he gave his holy Spirit to the disobedient Jews, but they rebelled against it:  
So sure and certain I am, That the same God hath sent forth his Light and his Truth now in these day, into the hearts of the worst of men, to strive with them, and to convince them of sin, righteousness, and to deliver them from deceit, darkness, and death:  
Yea, as sure as the Father sent his Son into the world, and he was therein, and the world knew him not, ye was the love universal to all mankind, that whosoever believed in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  
I do affirm and testify in the presence of God, Angels, and Men. That the same Jesus, according to his promise, is come again( in and by that Spirit that raised him from the dead) to set up and establish his Spiritual and Eternal Kingdom, in the hearts of men and women throughout the Nations, and make known his saving health to all people, to put an end to sin, and to bring in everlasting Righteousness, To whom be Glory and Obedience for ever.  
The End.