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.

Now as in answer to thy Queries.

Query 1. WHether it be not lawful to presuppose things 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are not, to find out the truth of things that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 And if so, then, &c.

Ans. It is not lawful for thee to int••nde into things 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou hast not seen, vainly puft up in thy fleshly mind. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that goes into things that art not, to find out the truth of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that are, goes from God the Truth, that is, into a lye; and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 presupposing things there, is not lawful; neither canst thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ought there; for nought brings forth its like, being gone 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God that is.

2. Whether there had been any need of Christ's coming in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Adam had stood in his created estate?

Ans. Christ••s coming in the flesh is that everlasting 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in which the Creation stands, and in which Adam had his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 estate, and so there was need of that which gave Adam 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being and recovery.

The third and fourth: Whether Christ restored to believers any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then Adam lost? And whether there be any ground to believe that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in this life hath more communion with God, or are more pure or perfe•••• than Adam was in Paradise?

Ans. Art thou got above the Innocency in thy imaginations, and hast the ground of thy belief to seek? First, come down out of thy imaginations, that thou mayest feel the ground of Faith; till then thou art no believer; and thereby be led up into a perfect state, to have communion with God in Paradise; till then, thou art not in that wh••ch Adam lost, and cannot under∣st••nd an estate above, nor believe it though it be told thee; that which now enquires, must lose its life ere thou come into Para∣dice: God's secrets must not feed Serpents.

5. Whether Adam in Paradise did not partake of that Light with which Christ lighteneth every one that cometh into the world?

Ans. The life of Adam in Paradise is the same, that is the light of the World, wherewith he lightneth every one that cometh into the World; and of this Adam did partake in Paradise▪ which gave him Light and Understanding, which when he

went into the selfish knowledge, he became brutish; and this is a witness against him.

6. Whether this Light of Christ, and all other Lights (within man, if any there be) are not seated in the understanding and mind? And whe∣ther all mens surest Light is not conveyed through the sences to the under∣standing? And whether this will not more clearly appear, if considered, thae stopping of the current of the sences, the understanding become••h totally dark as unto certainties, it having nothing there to nourish it, but imagination?

Ans. In this thou shews thy confusion, with thy many lights, but hast lost the knowledge of the true Light, and so utters thy darkness; first asks if the Light be not seated in the understand∣ing, and then asks if it be not conveyed through the sences to the understanding; but the surest Light is conveyed by faith thereof, born in the understanding, and not by thy sence; and to thy wits end that is carnal, must thou come, if this thou learn; for the mysterie is held in a pure conscience, and not in thy sen∣sual understanding; and who knows this, hath their under∣standing enlightened by faith, and not by the current of the natural sences.

7. and 8. Whether it argueth not darkness in the understanding to de∣termine any thing real or certain, which was not conveyed by the sences to the understanding? Whether for want of this consideration, many have not been possessed with as strong a confidence of a certainty, as all their pow∣ers both of soul and body could procure, yea to the laying down of their lives, and yet a meer imagination!

Ans. To determine any thing before the Lord, argues dark∣ness in the understanding: But what he reveals in the Spirit of Faith, and leads unto by his light, and not by the sensual under∣standing; and for want of this consideration have many been possessed with a strong confidence of a certainty; and not ha∣ving found their ends therein, have turned back again into de∣ceit, ready to conclude there is no God, because he would not answer their imagination, who determined things in their own wills, before the guidings of his Spirit; and see if hereof thou be not guilty.

9. Whether John Lilburn was not as confident that God owned him in his Religion opposing the Powers of the Nation, as Saul was in his de∣sign

to Damascus? And whether Sauls conversion to a Christian, and John Lilburns resolving to a Quaker, be upon one and the same ground?

Ans. That John Lilburn was confident in his Religion, is plain; else had he not so long been deceived; and that God owned him in opposing many of the unjust Powers of the Nation, is as plain; else had not he lived to have been converted; and that the ground thereof is the same wherewith Paul was converted, is as evident as the rest, to them that are in the Light, and out of the imaginations; and your envy to him since he owned the truth, is no small Testimony of it; and so all things testifying toge∣ther, the Tree will be known by its fruits to them that are not blind.

10. Whethee God did not convey this new Light or Dispensation to Sauls understanding through his sences, in that it is said he heard and saw, as a sure ground to build his faith upon? And also, whether he did not give him Power and Authority by signs and wonders, to convey to the understanding of those to whom he was sent to convert, a sure ground of faith also?

Ans. Here thou hast manifested that thou art blind and in confusion; for the ground of faith is but one in Paul and those that were converted; and this ground of faith is not of man, nor conveyed from one man to another, but it is the gift of God, and Christ is the Author of it. In thy Query thou art speak∣ing of the Light in which he heard and saw, being the ground of Pauls Faith, and the signs and wonders wrought by Paul, being a sure ground to convey faith to the people: If thou were not blind, thou wouldest see, that in Paul and the people the ground of Faith is but one; and they that believed because of the Miracles, their Faith as thine, doth stand in that which is changeable, and is not from the true ground; but those whom Paul preached unto, he told them, that the Word of Faith was within them: The Word which he preached, and the Light was in them, and so he was to turn them to the Light and to the Word which was within them. And whereas thou asks, Whether it was not conveyed through the senses to the understanding: First learn to know where it is, and what it doth enlighten in thee, and then thou wilt know what is convey∣ed

through; for as yet in thee thy senses are ignorant of it, though it shine in darkness.

11. Whether if John Lilburn have received the same ground of faith so conveyed to his understanding immediately from God, as Saul had, or by some other whom God hath endued with Power and Authority to convey a ground of Faith, as Paul did, then far be it from me for blaming of J. Lilburn for being a Quaker: Otherwise, whether if he have not received the ground of faith aforesaid, whether it be not easie to discern, that John Lilburn's Resurrection is but a meer imagination or Quaking Delusion?

Ans. Faith is the gift of God, and not the gift of Paul; and herein thou art blind: And Christ saith, Believe in the Light while ye have the Light; but he did not bid them believe in that which was of man, nor conveyed by men to one another: Yet thou confessest that it was conveyed to Paul immediately from God. Therefore seeing thou makest a difference, shew who did ever receive Faith, or the ground of it, and not from God, and what was the ground of Abraham's Faith, and E∣noch's, before the Scripture-Letter was written: But the ground of John Lilburn's Faith is immediately from God as Paul's was; and therefore thou mayest cease blaming of him for his being turned to the Faith.

12. Whether it be not easie to find out whether the Quakers doctrine be a dispensation of God, or a dispensation of man's will? Whether if it be of God, he will not take the same care for the divulging of it, as he did of his former dispensation? that is, by such evidences as no false Minister could procure; as when he commanded his Apostles to preach to the world, and to baptize them that believed, and to teach them to ob∣serve all things, &c.

Ans. Although our Doctrine be of God, yet to thee and all in that nature, it is not easie to know, nor find to be so; for none knows our Doctrine whether it be of God, but he that doth the Will of our Father, and walks in his obedience; and it is manifest, that thou yet hatest the way whereby our doctrine is known; for thou having not the Spirit of Truth, how art thou like to know that doctrine which is of God, from ima∣ginations? that which thou tryes withall being thy imaginary faculty; but that the Lord takes the same care for his Ministers

now, as ever he did, is manifest even by such evidences as no false Minister can produce; for never any of the false Ministers which the Lord did not send, did turn any from their iniquity, nor from darkness to the light, nor from the power of Satan unto God, which now many do witness from the Ministry which God hath now raised up in this age, which is the torment o•• the false Prophet; for if it had not been evidenced in power and by the Spirit of the Lord, to be contrary to the false do¦ctrine, especially in turning people from the wickedness whic•• your doctrine keeps them in, then it might have found favou•• amongst you, and would not so much have been despised; but to us it is an evident token of salvation, and that from God, though 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of perdition.