A BRIEF ANSWER TO THREE BOOKS, ONE By John Faldo, called an Independent, and Two by Thomas Hicks, a Baptist, put forth against the People called QUAKERS. Wherein the Presbyters, (Ind) pendents, and Baptists, though they differ among Themselves, yet like Herod, Pontius Pilate, Judas, and the Jews are all joined against the Truth. But that which is not of God, shall not Stand.  
WHen I intended to go my Journey, I met with a Book given forth by One John Faldo against the Quakers. I do not know what this John Faldo is, nor where he dwells, nor never heard of his Name before: but I know, he is like Thomas Hicks, that Wrote the Dialogue. Yet I do not know Thomas Hicks neither; but I know they are alike, they are both Mockers; themselves proves it in their Title-pages, and throughout their Books. They call names, as Quaker, and Quakerism, gone from Scripture-words; and yet call the Scripture their Rule. Herod and Pilate were made Friends; yet did despise and mock Christ the Head; and these Two mock and make Lies against his Members: their Books declare it. I cannot tell, which was first in the Lies? but I can tell, who is the Father of Lies, the Devil. He abode not in the Truth, neither do these Two Perspicuity and Brevity are two chief Points in Oratory; but these Two supposed great Orators have neither. When They Treat on a subject, their Porch is bigger than the House: they are so long and tedious, like the Orator, when his Glass was near run out said; Now to the Matter. They are in the many Words, Digressions, and Distinctions that they lose themselves and Reader also, except he abide in the Light. For Example:  
J. Faldo spends an Hundred and Nineteen pages to prove, That Quakers deny the Scriptures; and hath not proved it neither: but runs begging after the Quakers, that they would prove the Contrary. pag. 26, 27. And when he hath traveled to pag. 37. saith, Now to clench the Nail, I have been driving hitherto. I pursued him to pag. 130. to find the Nail clenched, but could not: so I left my Pursuit. Yet he saith; If one, or all these Arguments together will not prove, what I have brought them to confirm, I will forever despair to prove any thing.  
When T. Hicks and J. Faldo saith, The Scriptures are the Word of God, and Rule of Faith. They run into Thickets of Words, but here they have no shelter; for all people do, or may know, That Quakers do own Scriptures, and have, and do daily dis-prove their false Doctrines by plain Scripture words.  
J. Faldo saith in the Second part of his Book, That Quakers deny all Gospel Ordinances. Answ. They deny none, but such, as the false Churches do practice in their own wills without the Spirit, Life and Power.  
1. In Particular he saith, They deny the Ministry and Minister's of the Gospel. Answ. Quakers deny no Ministry, that is true; nor no Ministers, that are sent of God.  
2. He saith, Quakers deny the Gospel-Church. Answ. Quakers own that Church which is in the Living God, the Ground, and Pillar of Truth: but do deny all that say, They are a true Church, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan.  
3. J. Faldo saith, Quakers deny the Ordinance of Hearing the Word preached. Answ. Blush for shame: dost thou not know, they go sometimes many Miles, and many hundreds at a time; but thou goest not to hear Truth thyself; but hind'rest as many as thou canst, and wishest, as in thy Preface, That many Thousand of small pieces of four or five sheets were printed, and sold at a cheap rate, to discover the Quakers Principles. But that would discover and hurt thy Cause.  
4. Quakers deny Gospel-prayer. Answ. They do own and practise Prayer, and  at meals, in Families, and elsewhere.  
5. Quakers deny the Ordinance of Reading the Scriptures. Answ. They say, Reading and other holy Duties are to be performed in Families: and several have been convinced by Reading Quakers Books, before ever they heard a Minister.  
6. Quakers deny Water-Baptism and the Lords Supper. Answ. When the Substance is come, and enjoyed, the shadows fly away.— These Charges against the Quakers are all false; and so are many more in J. Faldo's Book.  
Pag. 8. he saith, Quakers preach a Christ within, in Opposition to a Christ without. Answ. We feel, taste, and handle Christ within our Hope of Glory: he is but one, and not divided. And so a wicked Slander to say, we oppose Christ without.  
Pag. 10. He saith, They decry the Scriptures of the Old, and New Testament as altogether needless, if not Mischievous. Answ. We believe and read the Holy Scriptures to our Profit and Comfort, being come to the same Spirit, by which they were given forth, and is the Interpreter of them.  
Pag. 40. The Quakers equalise their Writings, and Say with the Scriptures, and prefer them above them. Answ. They set the Scriptures in their place; but neither set them nor their Writings above the Spirit, as ye do.  
Many more might be noted; but this is enough.— I do admire, that ever a Man so Learned, as J. Faldo is, should so fail in his Learning, Senses and Reason, to charge so desperately, and perform so weakly. For I cannot find any Errors in the Quakers words, that J. Faldo hath cited; nor Strength in his Arguments to prove any.  
J. Faldo in the Third part of his Book concerning Apostolical Inspirations hath many Distinctions and Differences between the Spirit which the Apostles had, and the Spirit that Believers now have: But he is neither brief, nor plain; but endeavours in many pages to manifest some great matter; but his distinctions, and differences are not in Substance, but in Circumstances; not differing in Truth and Kind, but in Degree and Measures. There are Diversities of Gifts, Administrations and Operations; but the same Spirit. If J. Faldo hath found out another Spirit, it is a false one.  
J. Faldo would seem much a Scholar; but T. Hicks is more a subtle one; He hides his Work in Mists, and Thickets to cover his Wickedness. How can all the People of England, or elsewhere, where T. Hicks' Books may be seen, see the Quakers Books also (whom he hath charged) to know certain, whether his Charge be true? which is a thing unlikely, if not impossible. Why then, what colour of Reason is there in the least, that T. Hicks should be believed at any time, or in any thing, who is found a Liar so oftentimes, and in so many things; but all his Labour to be lost, and as Water spilt upon the Ground? And so no search after the Quakers Books need be; but T. Hicks accounted vir nulla fide, a man of no Faith or Credit.  
Now for me to detect a man without just Cause, were unjust: therefore hear, what I can say  
I. To the false Charges in his Book.  
1. The Quakers deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God. The Answer is in the first Chap. of John, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; all things were made by it. But the Scriptures were not in the beginning with God, nor Scriptures never was God, nor were all things made by the Scriptures.  
2. They deny the Scriptures to be as the Rule of Faith and Practice to Christians. Answ. The Spirit of God was, and is the Unchangeable, Everlasting Rule of Faith and Practice to all true Believers in all Ages. Who can understand the Scriptures, but by the same Spirit, that gave it forth? Then how can it be an infallible Rule without the Spirit to open and apply them?  
3. Quakers deny the Person of Jesus Christ. Answ. They do believe the One Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus. Where do the Scriptures (that T. Hicks calls his Rule) say, That Christ is a Person? or that the Son is One Person, and the holy Ghost Another ●erson? We own Christ Jesus born of the Vigin Mary, his Death, Resurrection and Ascension, and his Coming again in Spirit, who said, He that is with you, shall be in you.  
4. Quakers deny the Resurrection of the Body. Answ. They believe, All that are in the Graves, shall come forth; they that have done good, to the Resurrection of Life; and they that have done evil, to the Resurrection of Condemnation, And it shall be raised a Spiritual Body. But that the Body of Flesh and Blood shall rise in the same Form, and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, let T. Hicks prove that, by that which he calls his Rule, if he can: but that saith; Thou sowest not that Body which shall be.  
5. They say, that the Light in every Man is sufficient to guide unto Salvation, if it be obeyed. Answ. The Light is sufficient, whether any obey it, or not: but none shall be saved by it, but they that do obey it, and yet not saved by obeying only.  
6. Also ye maintain Perfection attainable in this Life; but what Perfection do ye mean? Answ. 1. There is Perfection to which nothing can be added; and so no Man, but God only is perfect. 2ly. There is Perfection from Sin: and so the first Adam was made perfect by Creation; and true Believers are made perfect by Redemption; else Christ Jesus the second Adam, hath less Power to deliver Man out of Sin, than the first Adam had to bring him into Sin.  
The most do not believe, there is such a State as Freedom from all Sin in this Life; some others do believe, there is. Yet none know it, but they that are in it: nor none can come into it, but they that are led and guided by the Word and Spirit of God in them. There is Perfection from Sin and Growth in Holiness. The Man Christ Jesus was free from all Sin, and grew in Wisdom and Stature: And such as come to this State grow up in Christ, the Resurrection and the Life, in the Unity, being set down together in the Heavenly Places, have fought a good Fight, and know the Overcoming, and enjoy a State, which the World knoweth not, but make War against it.  
II. There are many absolute Lies recorded in T. Hicks' Book; I give a hint but of some.  
1. He saith, All things necessary to Salvation are contained in the Scriptures, and in no other Record in the World, either without or within Men. Answ The Record of God is true, which is within men.  
2 He saith That the Light within is so far from being a sufficient Guide, that it ought to be rejected. Indeed Thomas Hicks doth reject it; which he ought not to do.  
3. T. Hicks saith, That perfect Freedom from all Sin will cause much Pride, and Presumption, and hinder holy Fear, and holy Watchfulness, and industrious Endeavours to walk in a holy Course to the end. Answ. If T. Hicks' Sins and Imperfections would have kept him from Pride and Presumption, why then is he so proud and presumptuous, hardly any like him, as his Books do manifest.  
III. Now besides his absolute— note some of T. H's suspected Lies.  
1. P. 9 T. H. saith, A Quaker told him, that he esteemed the Blood of Christ spilt at Jerusalem no more, than an Unholy or Common Thing.  
2. P. 29 T. H. saith, That G. Fox and R. H. said, It is dangerous for Ignorant People to read the Scriptures. Who will believe this?  
3. Pag. 30. T. Hicks asked J. Story, Whether the Light in every man is sufficient to guide to Salvation? J. Story answered (as T. Hicks saith in his Book) That he did not come to be Catechised. Answ. But J. Story did not answer three Priests so at the Town Hall in Marlbrough (where I dwell) before the Magistrates and a Multitude, sixteen years ago; but answered so, that they never desired, or not endeavoured to dispute with Quakers since.  
4. The Ill Report, that T. Hicks hath cast upon (as he calls) Fox, Dewsbury, Atkinson, Whitehead, Crisp, Burroughs, howgil, Penn, and others, is a suspected Lye. Who will believe T. Hicks, but such as are deceived with him by the Accuser of the Brethren, in whose Steps he treads?  
Now I expect, what I shall receive: It is likely the same, which T.H. saith in his Title page, and Postscript of his Dialogue; namely, That the Method and Manner of the Quakers reasoning is Scurrilous Language: though they speak Scripture-words, as to name Dog, Swine, Viper, Serpent, Liar, etc. but when the Persons spoken to are such, than it is Truth, and no Scurrilous Language.  
To J. Faldo, and Tho. Hicks.  
Friends,  
YE are both Strangers to me: I have no certain Knowledge of you, but by your Books; which when I received, and took Notice of your Waters, I found your dis-ease. Your Waters are not Rivers of Living Water, which flow out of the Belly of such, as believe in Christ, as Joh. 7, 38. nor the pure Riverwater clear as Crystal out of the Throne of God, and of the Lamb. Rev. 22. but brackish, foul Water out of the foaming Sea, that casteth up Mire and Dirt, out of which the Beast risen. Rev. 13. Waters, upon which the Whore sits, that hath made the Nations Drunk with the Wine of her Fornications. Rev. 17 So according to these Scriptures your Dis-ease is a Beastly, Drunken, Whorish Distemper. Consider in your own hearts, and be wise: Paul Persecuted that Truth, which afterward he preached. Come; I hope, your Day is not wholly over: I can assure you of a Remedy, if ye in Faith and Patience take it. It is this; Turn into the Light of Christ within you; notwithstanding ye have spoken all manner of evil against it, slighted, reproached, and vilified it; Yet come now, submit to it, and follow it, it will cure all your Maladies. Ye have a sufficient Warrant for what I tell you. Joh. 8.12. Jesus saith, I am the Light of the World; he that followeth me, shall not abide in Darkness, but shall have the Light of Life.  
Object. But if ye should object, and say, what is one sheet in Answer to Three Books containing 556. pages?  
Answ. I did fear, ye were affected with Tautology more than Brevity, with Obscurity more than Perspicuity. John saw in the Hand of the Angel a little Book, Rev 10. I have answered the Sum and Substance of your Three Books, though brief, yet plain; particulars in them of little Value are reduceable, and comprehended in the Summary. There is enough charged against you; clear yourselves of that first, and make invalid my Proofs, if ye can.  
Thomas Laurence.  
ONe day before I came forth, I met with another Book of Tho. Hicks, entitled A Continuation of his former Dialogue between a Christian and a Quaker. Why Thomas, are not Quakers Christians? what! are all Pagans, but whom T. Hicks will allow the name of Christian? Some Baptists, whose dwelling is in Marlbrough, said in my hearing, That Master Hicks having a Book in his hand, written Dialogue-way, cast it away with great dislike, and said; It was an unjust way of Printing: And gave his reasons for it: First, said he, The Translator hath all in his own hand, and can make his Opposer say, what he pleases to serve his own Turn. Secondly, he will take the weakest part of his Opponent to work upon, and (as I may say) rather than fail, make Lies of his own, and fence with them? as he hath done in both his Books. So instead of Repenting of doing that, which he then condemned, he Continueth in his Sin after Conviction, as if he were wholly hardened, regarding neither Justice, nor Honesty, nor his Account at the Day of Judgement, when he must answer for all his Deeds done in the Body. He saith, That Printing Dialogue way is unjust, and hath given his Reasons; yet hath printed two Dialogues himself: and so hath done the same thing, for which he hath condemned another: and therefore he is inexcusable, Rom 2. So to conclude, he hath condemned all his own Writings; what need any more Proof, or Arguments against him?  
Friends, J. Faldo and T. Hicks,  
I wonder, that Men so Learned and Eloquent, as ye would seem to be, and would be accounted solid and leading Men, should be so much in the vain Jangling, Contentions, and needless Repetitions: In the tenth part of the Paper you might have written more, and to better purpose. Though Quaking and Trembling is that, which some of God's dear Servants have known, yet who hath ever said, That Quaker or Quakerism is Christianity? or in what Tongue or Language have ye found the words? Ye fight against less than a Shadow, a Figment of your own, as T. Hicks calls. I'll tell you, from whence your words are? from the Beast, that risen out of the Sea; from the blind World, that lies in Wickedness; from the Stock of Ishmael, who are Mockers, born after the Flesh; from the Devil, the Father of Lies. Now take notice of your Original, and what your State and Condition is, whilst ye stand where ye are. If I had had more time, I know not, that I should have written any more. There is enough charged against you already, answer that first, if ye can. There be some Books printed already, and some to print to lay open your Weakness more at large: Ye had better proceed no further, lest ye be found Fighters against God.  
T. L.