A REVIEW Of that which RICHARD HUBBER THORN Did affirm to the KING AS The chief Principle of the QUAKERS.  
Whereby it doth appear that HUBBERTHORN did not declare fully the Quakers Principle.  
WRITTEN In a friendly way to undeceive the QUAKERS if possible, and to prevent others from falling into their errors.  
LONDON Printed, by I. C. 1661.   

My Friend:  
YOu and I having had some speech about that place, John. 1.9. That Christ is the light that lighteneth every one that comes into the world: Which in the conference betwixt the King and Hubberthorne is termed your principle; viz. that every man in the world hath within himself a sufficient light, (and that without Scriptures) to instruct and guide him in all things appertaining unto God for his salvation, if the fault be not in himself. And this you conclude from that saying, He is the light that lighteneth every one that comes into the world. John. 1.9. Although that Hubberthorne declared not that principle in these very words to the King; yet others of your way do affirm, that the light which is in every man, is of itself, without Scriptures, Churches, Fathers, Teachers, or Tutors, from Christian parents, or others, a sufficient guide to salvation. This assertion you would not deny. After thoughts upon this our Conference made me write these lines; which I Pray you seriously consider.  
This I affirm, that jesus Christ, the second person in the blessed Trinity, consists of two natures; that of the Deity, & that of the Humanity. The Deity is from Eternity; but so is not the Humanity. This place in St. John speaks of Christ's Deity; as he was God from all eternity, he enlighteneth every one that comes into the world. But this faith James Nayler denieth, crying out that in so saying, thou dividest Christ, thereby plunging himself into a condemned heresy, viz. that our Lord consisted not of two natures; but for some help to our understanding, you may be pleased to consider that Eusebius in his third book of his Ecclesiastical History, Chapter 21. speaking there upon what occasion the Four Gospels were written, saith that John preached, but writ nothing, till by entreaty he was moved. Now other Authors writ more plainly who moved him, and upon what occasion; namely for that Ebion and Cerinthus, two Arch-heriticks did then deny and oppose the Deity of Jesus Christ, the Bishops in Asia desired St. John to write his Gospel in opposition of them Heretics: which he then did, and began his Gospel as you see; In the beginning was the word, and the word was God etc. This in Eusebius is very remarkable; for saith he, He wrote nothing till he was moved; and then omitted the Genealogy of Christ, amply laid down by Matthew and Luke, and gins his Gospel with the Divinity of Christ, which is thus; In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God; and all things were made by him, and without him nothing was made, that was made. Mark, I pray you, how manifestly plain this is spoke of the Deity of Jesus. Moreover St. John goes on upon the same Subject, ver. 4, In him was life, and the life was the light of men. Now that was the true light, St. John saith, that lighteneth every one that comes into the world, ver. 9 A like speech St. Paul hath, Heb. 1.2. By him, saith the Apostle, he made the worlds, speaking there of more than one, namely worlds, visible and invisible. The meaning there is explained in another place, Coloss. 1.17.18. By him all things were created, that are in Heaven, or that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be Thrones, or Dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things were created by him, and for him, and that he was before all things, and by him all things consist. This must be meant of the deity only; for the humanity was not then in being, till many hundreds, yea some thousands of years after the Creation. Moreover Christ is called the wisdom of God, 1 Cor. 1.24. and so he is to be with God from everlasting, before ever the earth was laid; and when the earth was laid, then was I, saith that Text. I; what I? Christ Jesus, termed Prov. 8. and 1 Cor 1. called the wisdom of the Father. I was with him, as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight. Yea he was with him in the Creation, and by him man was made; for there was nothing made without him. He inspired into man the breath of life, and man been me a living soul, Gen 2.17. This spirit, or breath of God, made the soul immortal; and in this is a Candle, or Lamp, planted, which is called the candle of the Lord, which gives light to all our actions, and thoughts, searching even to the inmost parts of the belly, Prov. 20.27. And this is no other but the conscience, in which is written the natural, or moral Law, Rom. 2. which enlighteneth the conscience; which accordingly doth now either accuse, or excuse, and in the Judgement day shall with God acquit, or condemn. And this is the light or candle of the Lord, in Scripture so called, that lighteneth every one that comes into the world. But this light alone, without Moses and the Prophets, declared not, nor instructed men in the Ordinances, Statutes, and Judgements of Moses Law; neither doth it, without the Scriptures of the new Testament, the Apostles and Successors, teach the doctrine of Christianity. This light alone instructs not men in the doctrine, either in the Old or New Testament, any further than they are the same with the Law of nature. For the Statutes and Judgements, which by Moses were made known to Israel, were not showed to any other Nation, but to them alone, Psal. 147. ver. 20. And as for the doctrine of Christ, no natural light informs men of it. For who can by nature without Scriptures, Church, Fathers, Teachers, or Tutors, by Christian parents, or others, come to believe in him that was Crucified at Jerusalem, as in the true eternal Almighty God, and Saviour of the world? yea or to believe any particular point of Christian doctrine, that is not radicated and rooted in the Law of nature? The boldness of this assertion is a wonderment to men. O Lord, how doth Heresy bewitch, and brazen men's foreheads! Doth not common experience state them in their faces, and tell them, that let their pretence be what it will, there's not one Quaker, that could talk, confer, or dispute so as they do, but that they have been first tutored among Christians, Scriptures, or books? yea and Christians have been the Sampsons' Heifers to help these Philistines. For, alas! without the help of Scriptures they could no more speak of the mysteries of Moses law, and Christ's Gospel, than the Philistians could of Sampsons' Riddle, without the help of his wife.  
And therefore my friends, blush with a holy shame for this bold assertion and repent. If the doctrine, and mysteries of Christian Religion could have been known without help of Scriptures, or Christian Churches, or teachers, what need the Apostles to have been sent forth into all the world, and that with so great effusion of blood, to publish that which was known before, or might have been known without their help? That were to make our Lord needlessly profuse of his servants blood. And what need was there, that they must stay in Jerusalem, till they were endowed with power of working miracles? For without doing some miraculous works, the people were not bound to believe the Apostles: for so our Lord said, If I had not done the works amongst them, which no other man did, they had not sinned: but now their sin remaineth, John 15.22.24. Moreover St. Paul saith How shall we escape, if we neglect the doctrine of so great salvation? confirmed by so many miracles, signs and wonders, Heb. 2.3.4. And therefore doubtless the mystery of Christian Religion is not instamped in the Law of nature. For than it might have been known without such a conflux of miracles, to have witnessed it to us. How can they believe without a Preacher? saith St. Paul, Rom. 10.14. that is, they cannot. The natural man cannot understand the things that be of God. The Wise men of the East, notwithstanding their great talents of natural wisdom and knowledge, must come to Christ; the Eunuch must hear Philip; Cornelius must send for Peter, without which no light was able to inform them in all things, needful to Salvation. And therefore for any to pretend to know by the light that is in every man, (and that by it alone, without any Scriptures, or books, churches, teachers, or tutors) to know every thing needful for his salvation, doubtless its a great error, and such an one as upon which many others do depend: as namely, it forceth them off from Christianity, yea and to leave off all the ordinances of Christ's Church, both Sacraments, Lords days, yea all days dedicated by the Church to the service of our Lord, the which Quakers now do; and indeed to centre in very Gentilism, not observing in Christianity any more but what the law of nature teacheth only. I do not say, that Christ cannot teach without Scriptures, Churches, Preachers, etc. For he who is God blessed for ever, can do all things, and with him nothing is impossible. He can make bread of Stones, and Fish of Serpents, for his children. He could cure Naaman without washing seven times in Jordan; and save also people without Scriptures, Churches, Teachers, or Sacraments; but for us to trust, and that contrary to his revealed divine wisdom directing, is a most unpardonable presumption. And yet to these streits do the principles of Quakers drive them upon. But this is a sad condition, that poor deluded souls are in: and therefore O my friends, stand, pause, and consider your danger. Scripture saith, that Heresy proceeds from worse to worse. 2. Tim. 3.13. Heresy is a dart, that strikes through the liver; whereby the soul, like the poor bird, hasteth to the Snare, & knoweth not that it is for her life. But her house, saith that Text, is the way to hell, going down to the Chambers of death. Prov. 7.23.27. Such deluded Souls forsake the Church, the guide of their youth, and forget the Covenant of their God. Their house inclineth unto death, and their paths unto the dead. None that go unto her, return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. Prov. 2. These passages the Ancient Fathers (as Vincentius Lyrinensis, in his Golden rule saith) are principally meant of Heretics, deluding poor souls: but your boldness saith, the Fathers have erred; and James Naylour, even to me, said, that the spirit which searcheth all things, even the deep things of God, hath revealed unto him, and many more, that which Teachers and their Churches, Parents and Tutors were all Ignorant of, though they had the Scriptures, said he, often talked over. This is according to their principle, that the Spirit instructed them, and that without Scriptures, Churches, Teachers, or Christian Tutors.  
I answer, This assertion is so audaciously bold, that it cannot be paralleled by any Heretics. But this I pray these men to think upon, that their boasting of the Spirit is the very way of the worst of Heretics; and if they can demonstratively make it appear, that their spirit, upon which for infallibility they so much boast of, is any better than the very worst spirit of all Heretics that ever was in the world, both I and many others will be of their Religion. But alas my Friends, I know you cannot do this; you can do nothing but condemn the Church, and Fathers, and boast of your particular spirit; and so did all Heretics. Consider moreover our Lord did not make promise of sending the Holy Ghost to any particular men which were averse from the Church, but to the Church in general, for them to decree, to bind and lose, when they were gathered together. He said, he would be with them, and that to the end of the world: and what they did on earth, the same he would confirm in heaven. Particular men, Sons of the Church, had his spirit for particular ends, profitable for people in their condition, namely to hear and obey their guides and superiors. Obey those whom God hath set over you, (saith the Scriptures) and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account thereof. Hebr. 13: 17. It is true, that in the Apostles days, several members had several gifts, but ever by one and the same spirit; and that for the good of the Church. And in this kind the spirits of the Prophets were subject to the Prophets, that so there might be no Schism in the Body, or Church. 1. Cor. 12. To this end, though St. Paul were taught his Gospel of God, and not of man, and had an extraordinary calling from Christ himself, yet as he saith, he was sent to Jerusalem by revelation, to confer the same Gospel, which he had preached, with the Elders, which were the Apostles before him; lest (sad he) I had run or should run in vain. Galat. 2.1.2. Behold the Humility of St. Paul! But you will say in Elihu's words, that Inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding; and great men are not always wise men, neither do the aged always understand Judgement. Job. 32. I answer, Jobs Friends, as confident as they were of a right spirit, were deceived. For God Almighty saith, that they had not spoken right, as his servant Job had done. And therefore said God, Take a Sacrifice, and go to my servant Job, and let him pray for you: for him will I accept, lest I deal with you after your folly. Job. 42. This is a good sample for Sectaries, that without they be reconciled to the Church, and the Church pray for them, notwithstanding their Confidence in the spirit, God will deal with them after their folly, ver. 8. And therefore my Friends, be wise. Good men have been deceived, and why may not you? Be serious in your thoughts, for your Souls lie at the Stake. Be advised by the Prophet Jeremy, who saith, Thus saith the Lord, Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein; and ye shall find rest to your Souls. Jerem. 6.16. This is the language of holy Scriptures. God bids Israel to ask of the Ancient days, that were before them. Deut. 4. and appointeth the Fathers to declare unto the Children, the use of Ancient monuments. Jos. 4. and of Ceremonies, Exod. 12. And Gideon professeth his belief of the Miracles which his Fathers had told him. Judges. 6. and the Psalmist saith, we have heard with our ears, O God; our Fathers have told us, Psalm. 44. and again, I have considered the days of old, and the years of Ancient times. Psalm. 77. and Moses bids us remember the days of old, and the years of many Generations. Ask the Fathers, saith he, and they shall show thee; the Elders, and they will teach thee. Deut. 33. O my Friends, this was the way of God's people, both in the old and new Testament. See an example of this in the Song of Solomon, Tell me, O thou fairest among women, whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest. If thou knowest not, saith the Spouse, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flocks, and feed thy kids by the Shepherd's Tents. Canticles. 1.7.8. Ayasworth citys the Rabbis exposition of this place, who say, The Congregation, which is like to a fair Virgin, and whom my soul loveth, saith God, let her walk in the ways of just men, and order her ways by the mouth of her Governors (not by her private conception) & let her lead her posterity, & learn her Children, which are like unto kids of the Goats, to go unto the Synagogues and the Schools. Thus speak the Scriptures, and Ancient Interpreters, fare differing from your way. The Apostle bids us, keep the customs of the Church. 1. Cor. 11.16. Also, that we hold fast the Traditions, which we have learned, whether by word, or by Epistle. 2. Thess. 2.15. Also our Lord bids us hear the Church, and obey the Church; and he that will not, is to be accounted as a Heathen, and a Publican. Matth. 18.17. Answerable is that in 2. Thess. 3.14. If any man obey not our word, saith the Apostle, note that man, and have no company with him. Again, Obey those, that have the rule over you: for they watch for your souls, and must give an account for them, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you. Hebr. 13.17. Mark that; for the grieving your Pastors now will be grievous to you in the judgement day. But by your doctrine you acknowledge not for your souls neither rulers, teachers, nor guides, but only the light within you, for which you allege Jsa. 30.20. Thy teachers shall not be removed into a corner any more, but thy eyes shall see thy Teachers. But according to your doctrine, this light, viz. your teacher in every man, less or more, was never in any other corner, then where he is now. Besides all this, the old Testament showeth that if any controversies did arise, for resolution the Jews were to go to the Priests of the Levitical tribe, Deut. 17. but according to your doctrine neither they nor you ought to go either to ruler, Priest, or teacher; for that's within you; a light that lighteneth every man borne of a woman: which light was never in any other corner, then in that which it is in now.  
O my Friends, we count many of you honest men and rational men, and wonder at your Stupid senselesness. O Lord, what hath bewitched you? Some foregoing sins certainly hath provoked the Almighty, so that he hath permitted an evil spirit to delude you. Consider your bypast lives with trembling, Many of your leaders, before they were Quakers, were in Arms against the King and the Church, thereby to get a liberty to serve God without trouble in the Flesh; and by consequence to make void the Cross of Christ. O this was a deadly Sin; you fought against your Sovereign to gain a liberty to the flesh. Also many of you have renounced the Baptism, that you had received in the name of the Blessed Trinity into the saith of Christ's Church. O, this was a deadly Sin; by which in a manner you did put yourselves out of God's Protection, and so became active Instruments to the Devil, for rebellion, or heresy. I do not say all have thus done, but I saysome; and perhaps others by a lose and evil life, made some gradual Steps into, or towards this way.  
But you will object, and I have heard it objected, that you are now become what you now be, of better lives then ever you were before. O my Friends, let not a good life in Schism or heresy delude you; for by the seeming good lives of Heretics the Devil hath ever promoted his Kingdom. So Corah and his complices were of seeming good lives, and notable Orators; for which they compared themselves with Moses and Aaron, Numbers the 16. The Israelites thought so also, crying out against Moses; ye have slain the Lords people, said they, verse 14. And truly, as it was then, so it ever was, that the Schismatics that pretend to reform their mother-Church, generally they seem to be of better lives, than the Church was of: for if this were not so, they could have deluded very few. But so it ever happens; Ministers of Satan transform themselves into the habits of Angels of light, to deceive. 2. Cor. 11.13.14.15. And therefore let not this gloss keep you in snares, but deliver thy soul as a Roe from the hand of the Hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the Fowler, Prov. 6.5. you that are opposers of God's Church, if possible, recover yourselves out of the Snare of the Devil, who as yet by him are led Captive at his will. 2. Tim. 2.26. Which that you may, shall be the earnest prayer of your faithful Friend,  
T. S.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
Q. What esteem do you bear to the Scriptures of the old and new Testament?  
A. We account of them the very best of all writings, and as they issue forth from their Original Authors, they then were the pure wine of God; but as they have passed through the hands of many Copies, and since them again of many Translators and Printers, these Scriptures have in length of time passing through the Antichristian channel, contracted some Rust, and are now helped by the Spirit in the saints, which is no other but the same spirit, by which at first those Scriptures were declared to the world.  
Q. But for that they were declared to several people, and that upon several ocasions, of what use are they now of to another people, and that also in another generation?  
A Of great use, if applied by the same spirit to others to the same end for which at first they were given forth, then are they profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction & Instruction. 2 Tim. 3.16.  
Q. But are they not also profitable to himself that hath the spirit?  
A. Not for these ends; for he needeth them not, be having the unction that teacheth him all things. 1 Joh. 2.20. Yea the deep things of God, 1. Cor 2.10. And needeth not that any man teach him; for he hath the Anointing faith, that text that teacheth him all things, 1. Joh. 2.27. so that for a particular man's salvation that hath the Anointing, the written Scriptures profit him nothing.  
Q. Why then do they preach by Scriptures or in Scriptures phrases? this argueth that ye need the help of Scriptures to preach by.  
A. It is for the sake of others who so highly esteem of Scriptures we are forced to use that they so highly esteem, to convince them by; and moreover in this we seem weak with the weak that we might save some, 1. Cor. 9 and in this kind did Humphrey Woulridg as he said condesend to rebaptise a woman, not that he regarded baptism, but that the woman had a mind to be dipped, he condescended to her weakness, that thereby he might bring her out of the water unto the Rock; this be mentioneth in his book which he Intitleth, The unlimited God.  

Reply.  
This is the very answer that Josiah Carbrane the pretended prophet to John Roberts who made himself God; he that writes heard him speak it, that they used not Scriptures for their own sakes, but for the sakes of others, and moreover that they would deal with any men even with their own weapons, viz. Scriptures; so he spoke there were six or seven that fell down before Justice Hubberts. Face & worshipped this Roberts for a God, as the woman worshipped Naylor for a Christ; but as Naylor was worshipped and Pillered for his blasphemy; so was Roberts and his worshippers sent by Justice Hubbert to the prison in Sr. Joane's. But why was it said the woman worshipped James Naylor for a Christ, and Roberts by his followers was worshipped for a God? why not the Christ and the God, but a Christ and a God?  
Ans. James naylor's answer was that in whomsoever the light viz. Christ is eminent. the same is a Christ or Saviour; Obadiah ver. 21. Saviour's shall come on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau, and in the same sense would Roberts prove himself a God. Thus we see how horribly the Scriptures are abused.   
FINIS.