A collection of the several books and writings of that faithful servant of God, Richard Hubberthorn who finished his testimony (being a prisoner in Newgate for the truths sake) the 17th of the 6th month, 1662.

An Answer to Richard Baxters Queries.

1. Query, HOw comes it to pass that all Nations that never heard the Gospel are utterly void of faith in Christ, when the Nations that have the Gospel do generally know him more or less.

Ans. The Apostle saith, they have all heard, but they have not obeyed the Gospel, Rom. 10.16 18. And the reason why all Nations are void of Faith in Christ, is because they have not obeyed and believed that Gospel which is Preached in e∣very Creature, and the Nations which have that which thou calls the Gospel, to wit, the letter, are as void of Faith in Christ as those which have it not, and as void of his knowledg; for the Gospel is the Power of God, Rom. 1.16. And it is the Light of the glorious Gospel shining in the Heart, which gives the knowledge of God in the Face of Jesus Christ, which light while thou opposest the Gospel from thee is hid, and the eye blinded which should see it.

2. Que. Why did not the World believe in Christ, even Generally be∣fore his coming, if reason was then a sufficient light?

Ans. This is an Ignorant and unlearned question, who hath said that reason was then a sufficient light; or who doth say that reason now is a sufficient light, but thy self; but the rea∣son why the World did not believe in Christ both befo••e and

since his coming, was because they hated the Light in which they should have believed, and was despiteful against the spirit of Grace, and all its appearances, as thou and Tombs art at this time.

Qu. 3 Why did Christ preach himself while he was on Earth, if the people had all sufficient light before?

Ans. He preached that they might believe and obey the Light which they had, which was sufficient, that thereby they might be made children of the Light, John 12.36. & to turn their minds to the Kingdom of God which was within them, Luk. 17.21. For this end was the preaching of Christ, and the Apostles, Pastors and Teachers of his Church; for although Christ was given a Light both to Jews and Gentiles, and this Light shined in their hearts, yet their minds were to be turn∣ed to it; and they obey and follow it as the way to salvation; otherwise it was their condemnation.

Qu. 4, & 5. Why did he send his Apostles to preach through the world, if the people had sufficient light before? And why did he set Pastors and Teachers, if all have a sufficient light in them?

Aasw. As the Father sent Christ into the World, so did Christ send those Apostles, Pastors and Teachers into the World, Acts 26.18. He was sent to turn them from dark∣nesse to Light, and from the power of Satan unto God; so that although there was a Light which was sufficient, and the power of God was sufficient, yet they must be turned to it, and obey it, or else they were not saved by it; but Christ was a sufficient Light given of the Father for a light & a guide to the Jews and Gentiles, before the Apostles preached him; but thy questions are as if thou shouldest say, If Christ or his Light be sufficient, and if he did come into the World both to Jews and Gentiles, why need any preaching, or bid others to obey and follow him, seeing he is sufficient? the Apostles did not preach another Light than that which had already ap∣peared before they preached, and that which had enlighten∣ed every man come into the World; and they said that all the Nations of them that are saved, must walk in his Light; and

so though the Light was come, and also preached, yet none by it was saved, but they which did receive, believe and walk in it, and for that end was it preached in the World.

Qu. 6. Why do the Quakers ge up and down teaching man their own Doctrines, if all men have sufficient light already?

Ans, The ground of the Query is false; for the Quakers do not go up and down teaching men their own doctrines, but do teach men the Way of God plainly, and do instruct the ignorant, and him that is out of the Way, and do turn men to that Light which is sufficient to lead them to God, and which will lead them from all Hirelings who make merchandize of souls, bodies and estates of men for their dishonest gain; and this Light of Christ (by which men are enlightened) doth justifie us in our going up and down in teaching men to deny all ungodliness, and all the Worlds lusts with which many are defiled, and in which many are kept by those who deny the Light, and speak evil of it.

Qu. 7. Why do they cry out against us as being in darkness, when all m••n have sufficient light within them?

Ans. You are in darkness, because you hate the Light; and while you do so, your deeds are evil, and we cannot but cry against you, as Christ and his Ministers did against those who were haters of the light; and what thougst the l••ght be suffici∣ent? that's nothing to your justification, while you rebel against it, And you shall know that the Light is sufficient to condemn you, if you do not obey it, to be led thereby unto life eternal.

Qu. 8. Will they pray for more Light and Grace, or not? if not, they are impiously proud; if yea, thin it seems they have not yet Light and Grace sufficient.

Ans. The Lord said unto Paul, My Grace is sufficient for thee; and yet Paul prayed for more grace, and was not impiously proud, as thou hast charged us; and the Apostle said, 2 Cor. 9.8. God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that ye al∣ways having all sufficiency, may abound, &c. So that these Co∣rinthians had sufficiency of grace, and yet were to abound, and they were not impiously proud in praying for more. And though this to thee be a Mysterie, yet to us it is plain truth; and vve are no more guilty in this then the Saints vvere.

9. Que. Whereas they say the light within is sufficient if obeyed, the question is, whether it be sufficient to make men obey it?

Ans. The light is sufficient, and hath sufficient power in it to make men obedient if received and obeyed, yet by the power of self no man either receives or obeys it, but the command is of it, & the power from it by which men do believe and obey; so that though this be a Mysterie and Parable to the Ignorant, yet it is plain to him that understands the leadings and power which is in the Light.

10. Que. But how can any light be sufficient to reveal that which is not manifested by it, or by any Revelation that doth accompany it? No l••ght nor Revelation among the Heathens in America doth tell them that Christ was incarnate, died, rose, ascended, or intercedeth for us; or is the King, Priest or Teacher of the Church, or wi••l raise the dead, and judge the world; how then can their Light be sufficient to help them to the belief of this? I think it's past controversie that no man hath sufficient grace for salvation till his last breath, &c.

Ans. The ground of this Query is ignorance, to ask how can any Light be sufficient to reveal that which is not manifested by it; to manifest is to reveal; but for thee to say, how can it reveal that which is not revealed by it, is non-sence: And whoever hath affi••med that the light hath revealed that which is not manifested by it; but this light which thou so hates, the least measure of it being received is sufficient to ma∣nifest thy darkness and foolish questions, and to manifest thy Ignorance of the things of God; and the Light of Christ is the same in America which it is in England, and those Hea••hens in America who love the Light of Christ and walk in it, although they have not the Scriptures, doth know more of Christ, his Life, Death, Intercession and Teaching, then those Heathens in England, which have the Scripture of those things, yet hate and despise the Light which gives the Knowledge of Christ, and of his work of Salvation, and those Heathens which fear God and work Righteousness shall be accepted of God and counted Christians, when those called Christians which nei∣ther fear God nor work Righteousness, but despise his light and deny the sufficiency of it, shall be accounted Heathens.

And whereas thou thinkest its past controversie, that no man hath sufficient Grace for Salvation till his last breath; by

this thou wilt make it without controversie that the Scripture is false, and not to be believed; which Scripture if thou want, what hast thou more then the Heathens in America, but rather a great deal less: Had not the Apostle Paul sufficient Grace when the Lord said, My Grace is sufficient for thee, 2 Cor. 12.9. And had not the Corinthians sufficiency of Grace, 2 Cor. 3.5. whose sufficiency was in God, and from God to them made manifest; and had not they sufficiency in all things, 2 Cor. 9.8. And was Paul with those Corinthians at the last breath, when those things were spoken; but thy thoughts have deceived thee, in thinking such a thing to be past controversie; for thou must be both controverted and contradicted, while thou thus in thy extreams and floods of fury, sets thy self against the Truth, as it is made manifest in us, and also in the Scriptures.

Again thou saist, Thou thinks it is time for men that have any sence of the common interest of Christianity & Reformation, to lay by these con∣tentions that hav brought you so low, & almost made you a prey to the com∣mon Romish Adversaries, (saying) the Lord grant it be not too late.

Ans. Art thou now sensible of the emptiness in, and the disadvantage which thou gets by thy contention; and thou may well see it, if thou be but sober, how the Romish adversa∣ries may have advantage against thee, condemning that in them which thou allowest in thy self; and thou mayest have a ground of jealousie in thee that it is too late; But as for an interest in Christianity and Refor••ation, thou art far from it, who art striving to keep people from the Light, by which peo∣ple should be reformed, and by which they should be led into the life of Christianity. And although thou confessest, that you are brought low by contention, and by too eager dispu∣tation, yet again thou exalts thy self and thy Brethren, as if you were above Christ or his Apostles in the Work of the Mi∣nistry; for thou saist, How few did Christ convert, that spake as never man spake? And how many places did the Apostles preach in, where they converted not one for a hundred that some of you see converted in one Parish. And thus thou de∣fames Christ and the Apostles Doctrine, to set up thy own; bu•• if thou do not as well deny the Scriptures; as Christ and the Apostles Minstry, thou mayest read how that three thous••nd were converted at one Sermon; and If thou truly consider and try thy own Work, thou wilt see that all the Ser∣mons

which ever thou hast preached, hath not converted one in thy Parish into the State of a new creature, where all old things are done away, and all things are become new, and so thy boasting thereby may be ended.

Again thou saist, That you do not fear that quaking should become the Nations Religion, we know those squibs will soon be out.

Ans. If it were but a squib that would so soon be out, what need you make so much a do about it, and bring forth so ma∣ny floods, and draw dry so many wells to quench it? And what is the cause of such jealousies in your hearts as sometime to fear that it's too late to strive against it? And why are you so afraid that it should have its liberty in the Nation, if you think it will be so soo•• out? but it is your constant practice to speak one thing, and to think another; for this which you say is but a squib, will be as an eve••lasting burning, that none shall be able to quench it; and it is the powerful appearance of the Lord from Heaven; and who may abide the day of his coming? or who may stand when he appears? Not those who have con∣temned his Light, and reproached the children of it; not those who preach for filthy lucre, who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, who make merchandize of souls for dishonest gain; but he that walketh righteously, and speak∣eth uprightly, he that despiseth the gain of oppression, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil, such a one loveth the appearance of him who is come a Light into the World, and loveth the children that walk in his Light; for he that loveth him that doth beget, loveth also those that are begotten of him, who walk in his Light; but the Wick∣ed shall become silent in darkness; and many who have used their tongues, and said, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, shall not be able to stand when he appears, nor to abide the day of his coming, which to them that hate him, is destruction; but to them that love him, is everlasting salvation. And this is the day of his appearance, in which blessed are they that are not offen∣ded in him.