Judgment fixed upon the accuser of our brethren and the real Christian-Quaker vindicated from the persecuting outrage of apostate informers chiefly from W. Rogers, F. Bugg, T. Crisp, John Pennyman and Jeffery Bullock ... / by that contemned servant of Christ George Whitehead.

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Judgment fixed upon the accuser of our brethren and the real Christian-Quaker vindicated from the persecuting outrage of apostate informers chiefly from W. Rogers, F. Bugg, T. Crisp, John Pennyman and Jeffery Bullock ... / by that contemned servant of Christ George Whitehead.
Author
Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723.
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London :: Printed and sold by Andrew Sowle ...,
1682.
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Society of Friends -- Apologetic works.
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"Judgment fixed upon the accuser of our brethren and the real Christian-Quaker vindicated from the persecuting outrage of apostate informers chiefly from W. Rogers, F. Bugg, T. Crisp, John Pennyman and Jeffery Bullock ... / by that contemned servant of Christ George Whitehead." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A65870.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 23, 2025.

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Page 308

CHAP. IX. (Book 9)

§. 1. Why notice is taken of Jeffery Bullock, in this Treatise; some Reasons given. §. 2. His charge of mens Inventions, false Do∣ctrines. Of the Church of Rome, &c. Vi∣sible Church-Government, that's altogether Antichristian, testified against. §. 3 Christ's Government in his Church, how Invisible and Visible, vindicated from Jeffery Bul∣locks opposition to Elders, Mens Meetings and Womens Meetings, &c. §. 4. Our Reverence to God in our Prayers, and re∣verent Deportment and Conscientiousness therein, both in uncovering our Heads, Kneeling, &c. vindicated from his false Ob∣jections. §. 5. His fallacious dealing with our Doctrine about the Seed of God in man: The matter truly stated against his Falshood. §. 6. Of his disowning the arising of the Seed of God in man. §. 7. Our preaching Salvation and Justification by the Man Christ, the Son of God, and his being our Way to the Father, questioned by J. Bullock; here vindicated. §. 8. His Ignorance of the innocent Birth or Babe Immortal; and of Gods appearance and speaking by his Son, and his opposing the inward feeling of Life.

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His slanderous repetition against us about God being held in Bondage, testified against, and the matter opened, as what it is that suffers, and what is in Bondage in man. His denying Christ to be the only Way to the Father again; with a Collection of his Er∣ronious and Atheistical Doctrines. §. 9. His opposing Justification, Salvation and Condemnation by that Christ that suffered, proved Erronious, and against his Media∣torship, and Scripture-Testimony. J. B. confounded about two Christs, &c. §. 10. His opposing Christ's coming of David, &c. And his asserting that his Soul dyed, that he internally dyed. And his holding the Mor∣tality of the Soul of man, proved Erronious and Atheistical, and abundantly contradict∣ed by himself and his Preaching. §. 11. His asserting the Scriptures to be the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, whimsical and erronious; and disowning our Friends Book, Letter and Testimony, and yet confessing them to be in the Letter of the Scriptures, contradictory to himself and his Books against us. §. 12. His practical contradiction in separating himself from others, and preach∣ing in our Friends Meeting at Sudbury. His erronious Denyings and Doctrines sumed up, and denyed by the true Christian-Quakers.

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The Conclusion, by way of Solemn Appeal and Supplication to God.

§. 1. COncerning Jeffery Bullock's four Pamphlets, slanderously char∣ging us with Antichristian Doctrines, and an Antichristian Government, or a visible Church-Government that's altogether Antichristian, as in his One Blow, pag. 9. &c.

Some may ask me, Why I take notice of such confused, muddled, blind, dark and mad Stuff, as his appears to be? To which I Answer:

First, Because neither the Truth, nor us, as a Religious People and Christian Society, may lie under any Dis-repute, Ble∣mish or Derision thereof, in the Eyes of those that know not, nor rightly under∣stand the Christian Doctrine, Discipline, Church-Government, and wholsom Order among us, seeing the said J. B. has been for many Years conversant among the Peo∣ple called Quakers, and born the Name of a Quaker (he saith) this twenty Years, and more: Though he IS NO QVAKER, but turn'd an open Enemy to them.

Secondly, Because the said Jeffery Bullock, in a great measure, runs parallel with, and resembles William Rogers and his party, in his opposition and gain-saying of that Order and Church-Government that is

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among us, falsly accusing us with Men's In∣ventions, Imitations, Traditions, laying aside the Spirits Government, &c. as in his ONE BLOW, &c.

Thirdly, Because four Persons of Wil∣liam Rogers's Party * 1.1 of Chippinham in Wilts∣shire have given their approbation in a Let∣ter to the said Jeffery Bullock of his Books, particularly that cal∣led, One Blow more a∣gainst Antichrist's Mi∣nisters; and have de∣clared, that several Friends have good Vnity therewith; Which I do not believe: And not only so, but this in opposition and con∣tempt to others, whom they abusively revile in these Words (viz.) But here are also a com∣pany of called Friends, which are very much for Foxonians Orders, which may be called mens Inventions, that do make it their work to Defame and Calumniate all them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 do not conform thereunto. Some of

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which thou, and most of which we are in our Hearts perswaded are Servants of the living God, amongst which thou hast a share of being villified to be a bad man; although to us its no manner of Invitation for us to give Credit thereunto, &c — Barnadiston and another hath been here, their envious Darts fly very swiftly and secretly—If thou pleasest to send half a Dozen of thy Books, &c. With other Aggravations in the said Chippinham Letter, shewing not only their approba∣tion and owning of Jeffery Bullock and his Books, but also their bitterness of Spirit in villifying and reproaching others; al∣though I understand they have been a little ashamed of their approbation of his Books, yet not that they have repented of the bit∣terness of their Spirits, nor condemned those villifying Reproaches and bitter Ex∣pressions in their said Letter, as Foxonians Orders, Barnadiston and another; their en∣vious Darts fly very swiftly, &c. What scorn, bitterness, and rancor do such Expressions bespeak? Christ never taught them to give such Names to Friends as Foxonians, nor would they take it well to be so dealt by, nay, they would think much if they should but be called Johannites, and their reviling Giles Barnardiston, who was a peace∣able innocent man, and of good Report, doth bespeak a great Prejudice and En∣mity

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to have entred their Spirits, which they should plainly have condemned; their Letter is all perverse, but I do not under∣stand any sincere or tender Retractation, or real Condemnation thereof given out by them.

Fourthly, Notice is here taken of Jeffery Bullock's Pamphlets, to manifest the great Absurdity that opposit dividing Spirit leads into, and to warn others against it. And why these Persons should so hastily approve of Jeffery Bullock's Books, or say, that se∣veral Friends have good Unity therewith, I know no reason, being in several things so Corrupt, Erronious and Atheistical, as they are, except it be with respect to the Oppositions therein contained against the Church-Government, Order and Methods among us, in opposing whereof, Jeffery Bullock was these men's Elder Brother. Con∣cerning which, take a view of some Pas∣sages in his said Pamphlet, viz. One Blow more, in his own Words.

§. 2. Jeffery Bullock saith, And you my Brethren also ought to have Preached up God's invisible appearance by his Spirit in our dayes, to be the end of mens Inventions, Imitations and false Doctrines: But instead thereof, you have preached up false Doctrines, and also set

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up your own Inventions among the Quakers so called, p. 5.

Answer; His charge of false Doctrines, and mens Inventions, we utterly deny as slanderous: God's invisible and spiritual Appearance, and the Testimony thereof still lives among us in as high esteem as ever, against false Doctrines and mens In∣ventions. But herein J. B. resembles the rest of the Opposers, in the work of the false Accuser of our Brethren.

Jeffery Bullock. My Brethren, I fear you are not past the Doctrine of the Church of Rome, nor yet of the Priests and Professors of England [a false Fear] There is as great necessity of Preaching up Salvation to us Gen∣tiles, by God's invisible Appearance, who is a Spirit, and also his Spirit to be the end of all mens Inventions, Imitations, Traditions, &c. pag. 6. [True, but misapplied] Therefore I would have G. Fox, and the eleven Elders, who are preaching up false Doctrines, and also setting up their Inventions among the People called Quakers, as Rules, &c. p. 7.

Answer; Herein he is a false Accuser still like the rest, and he's far louder in his Charges than in's Proof. False Doctrines and Inventions of men, both of the Church of Rome and elsewhere, we utterly deny.

J. B. My Brethren your visible Church-Government

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is altogether Antichristian, be∣cause that every Member of the Church in God is to be both ruled and governed by the measure of Gods Spirit in them; and it is none of George Fox's, nor yet the eleven Elders that is to be a Rule for the Quakers to walk by, p. 9.

Answ. His charge of Antichristian and Inventions we utterly deny, and testifie a∣gainst as Antichristian; and he, and the rest of his backsliding Spirit, and appro∣vers of him and his Books, are never able to make his Charge good. However, here its plain that he opposes visible Church-Go∣vernment, because of the inward Rule by the measure of God's Spirit, wherein he argues Erroniously, and contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and Primitive Christians Practice: Both the inward Rule, and out∣ward Order, and due Methods among them, all springing from God's Spirit within, were not to draw them from a de∣pendance on that Spirit, but to shew forth Obedience in Practice and Example to the holy Spirit and pure Religion, and therein to help one another, for which purpose the Holy Ghost made Overseers and Elders, The Elders that rule well are worthy, &c. He that ruleth with Diligence, &c. I left thee in Creet to set in order those things that are lack∣ing, &c. But there were such Apostates then as despised Dominion, and spoke Evil

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of Dignities, even of those Instruments and Ministers, Helps and Governments, whom the Lord ordained and raised up and dig∣nified in his Church; and such are these Opposers now in the same Spirit of Op∣position and Contempt.

§. 3. J. B. And she (i. e. the Church) hath no need of your visible Government, because she is the Bride, the Lambs Wife; and she hath no need of the Light of the Moon to shine in her, because the Lord is the Light, and the Lambs Spirit is the Light of the Church that is in him: But your visible Churches make use of the Light of the Moon, * 1.2 that is, your Mens Meetings, and al∣so your Womens Mee∣tings, and the Orders which are set up by them, they are to be Rules for your visible Churches to walk by: For the Women have power to or∣der the Affairs of your visible Church, as well as your Men; and this Practice of yours is al∣together Antichristian, and so also is your Church-Government, because it is the Invisible man Christ, who orders all things in his Church by his own Spirit.—Those who are Members of the Church in God among you, in time will abhor your Government, because it is Antichristian; For you Elders do look upon

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your selves to be Judges, and that you have Power to determine things in matter of Con∣science, &c. p. 10, 11.

Answ. Christ's Government in his Church is both Invisible and Visible, he go∣verns by himself and by his Ministers: all are not come to a ripe Age in him, there are many Children and weak Ones, who have need of helps in Government: Our faithful Mens Meetings and Womens Mee∣tings were set up by the Power of Christ Jesus, and in his Light he governs and rules among them by his own Spirit: And faithful, grave and sober Women have power to be Teachers of good things, and to teach the younger Women. Christian-Church-Order and Spiritual Rule were exercised among the Primitive Christians, both Men and Women, who were Chil∣dren of New Jerusalem, the free Woman; the Inhabitants of this City are not with∣out Order, or Ministers therein. And therefore this Opposers Blow and Charge of [altogether Antichristian] against our Mens and Womens Meetings, is both Silly, Proofless, Slanderous, and altoge∣ther Antichristian, against Christ's Work (and appointment) in Male and Female; and as the Church-Government among us is Christ's Government, both revealed, set up, and ordained by him; none that are

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and continue true Members of his Church, will ever abhor that Government, nor re∣ject, slight or despise that promised Do∣minion and Judgment that he hath given to the Saints to determine matters of Dif∣ference, but only Apostates, false Bre∣thren and deceitful Workers, and loose Spirits; these will be smiting and accusing the Brethren, despising Dominion, and speaking evil of Dignities; yea, speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them, crying against outward Rule and Go∣vernment, Forms and Order in the Church, whilst they are seeking Mastery, Dominion, Rule and Government to themselves. As for our visible Church and visible Church-Government (or Order) so much opposed by this Adversary, he talks blindly and ignorantly; for though the Church be Invisible, as to the Spirits of Men, who are Members of it, and Christ's immediate Rule and Government in the Heart be In∣visible, yet there is a Visibility both of the true Christian Congregation, and good Order and Rule therein, proceeding from the Spirit of Christ within.

The People of God and their good Con∣versations and Order in Christ, are not all shut up in an Invisibility, being as Epistles to be read and seen of all; and they as a City set upon a Hill, &c.

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J. B. You do prefer your selves, and the Church in the first place before God, who is Light— And have set up themselves and their Church as Head, instead of God and Christ, p. 12. Their setting up themselves and their Government, and are laying aside the Spirit's Government and Authority, p. 13. Those Elders who call themselves Ministers, look upon themselves and their Image to be equal in Power and Glory, both with the Father and the Son, Testimony against the Quakers, p. 3.

Answ. These are notoriously false and slanderous; We prefer the living God, and his Son Christ Jesus before all, and do not lay aside the Spirit's Government or Au∣thority, but in humility reverence, and desire ever to live under the same, knowing Self abased, and Images defaced and re∣jected by the Light of Christ Jesus.

§. 4. J. B. If any of those called Teachers intend to speak a few words commonly called Prayer, then the Women and the Men that are set in the Meeting, shall rise up, and the Men will uncover their Heads.—Their Teachers have judged those Quakers not to be real Mem∣bers of their Church or Body, that have not done it (i. e. uncovered their Heads) And herein the Quakers in general have given more Homage, Reverence and Respect to the Words or Prayers of another, wherein there was no Life

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at all, than they have done to the Word of Life it self in their own Particulars: And this is Anti-christ's work, p. 14, 15.

Answ. His conclusion is false and slander∣ous herein. We Reverence the Word of Life in our living Prayers, and not Lifeless Words; And why doth he thus judge any Reverent Posture among us in Prayer, as that of Peoples Rising up, and Mens Unco∣vering their Heads in our holy Duty of publick Prayer? This is like John Perrot's prejudiced Party. And how foully Con∣tradictory to himself is he in thus unchari∣tably judging us for our Reverent Posture or serious Behaviour, which is matter of Conscience to us, when yet he'l not allow any Members or Elders among us to judge or determine matters relating to Consci∣ence? And cautions us in Christ's words, Judge not, that ye be not judged, p. 12. Oh, blind harden'd Man! how darest thou thus judge over our Consciences, or falsly accuse us with leading People from the Power, to worship and reverence the Form more than the Power? And then most falsly to add, That this is the work of Antichrist among the Quakers, p. 17. Here thou hast slandered, and shamefully belyed the People of God called Quakers, and hast shewn thy self not worthy of so much as the Name of a Quaker. Thou hast long been a Reproach unto them.

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J. B. Postscript to his Antichrist's Trans∣formations within, (viz.) If any amongst you pretend to be moved by the Spirit to go to Prayer, then both Men and Women, they either stand up or else kneel down, and the Men all pull off their Hats, which own your Form of Prayer; and herein you do both Worship, Reverence and Adore the Form outwardly, and the Words more than you do the Word of Life in your own Particulars.

Answ. An erronious Conclusion, and no natural Consequence, either of our stand∣ing up, kneeling or putting off our Hats in Prayer; for all these may be and are inno∣cently and conscientiously performed with Respect (and in a holy Reverence) to Al∣mighty God, whom we breathe and pray unto by his own Spirit. Besides, both Kneeling and being Uncovered have been practised among God's People and true Christians in Prayer to him; so that these Postures are not condemnable in themselves. How blind and ignorant therefore is this Gain-sayer in his Opposition? Read Psal. 95.6. O come, let us Worship and Bow down▪ Let us Kneel before the Lord our Maker. And Acts 21.5. And we Kneeled down on the Shore and prayed; see also 1 Cor. 11.4.

§. 5. Having thus manifested the Heads of Jeffery Bullock's Opposition to outward

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Order and visible Church Government, &c. and how blind and irrational he is therein, Inconsistent, Erronious and Antichristian in his Judgment. Now take a view of the Doctrinal part of some of those Doctrines he opposeth, and what Doctrines he assert∣eth.

J. B. The second false Doctrine by you Preached, and also Printed, is, That the Seed, Spirit, Word, or God, is both in Pri∣son, Bondage and Captivity, and to be quick∣ned, raised, &c. and that the Blessing is to the Seed, p. 2, 3. of his ONE BLOW.

Answ. Herein he hath dealt unfairly and fallaciously; he hath not produced any Book of ours, or our Friends, wherein this Doctrine is Printed, nor proved where any of us have thus asserted in these very Words, though much of his opposition in his Pamphlets depend hereupon. We de∣ny the Doctrine that the Word, God, is ei∣ther in Bondage or Captivity in the Sons and Daughters of men, but only that there is a Seed of God and of Christ that is op∣pressed, and suffers in many by reason of Transgression [a Seed of God] is common∣ly our phrase and terms in this case: God is greater, he is above all, he is God and Father of his own Seed and Birth in man, which is a tender Seed, a lowly and innocent Seed, of the nature of Christ Jesus as Me∣diator,

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who hath planted of his own Seed in man from the beginning, even of his own Life, Soul and Image, &c. who was The first born of every Creature, who said, My Father is greater than I: A•••• from this Seed comes a holy Generation, in them that believe in his Name and Power. Read also the Pa∣rable of the Sower, which was the Son of Man, and of the Seed that fell, some on good Ground, some on stony Ground, and some in High-way Ground, &c.* 1.3 And also how the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Grain of Mustard Seed; as also the Pa∣rable of the Pearl hid in the Field, &c. And further, the Seed of God and Christ may suffer, and yet not be in Bondage nor Cap∣tivity; nor hath the Devil or Sin, power or dominion over Christ or his Spirit in man (as J. B. falsly infers against us) but over the Soul and whole Creature in Sin, for whom Christ laid down his Life, and took it up again, who gave his Flesh for the Life of the World; And every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, shall have everlasting Life; and I will raise him up at the last day, (saith Christ) John 6.39, 40, 44. and ver. 54. Christ Jesus is not brought into Bondage or Captivity in man, though he condescends to suffer and bear Affliction for his own Seed and Generation, to bring them forth; for his own Arm can bring Sal∣vation

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to him: he can take unto him his great Power when he pleaseth: Though he was oppressed and afflicted, and his Soul was Sor∣rowful, nigh unto Death, when he bore the Sin of many in the dayes of his Flesh, & when the Iniquities of all did meet upon him, when he suffered on the Cross; and he is also such an high Priest as can be touch∣ed with the feeling of our Infirmities, suf∣fer with us, and be afflicted in all our Af∣flictions; many are also said, To pierce him, grieve his holy Spirit, crucifie to themselves the Lord of Life afresh, and to tread under Foot the Son of God, &c. These are certain Allusions and Elegancies, intimating Christ's suffering, and also his being offen∣ded and grieved by the Contempt, Despight and Enmity of the Rebellious: And yet Christ cannot be properly said to be in bon∣dage or captivity in the Sons and Daugh∣ters of men; for (as in himself) he that was dead, and is alive, ever lives in Do∣minion, having power over all Flesh, that he might give eternal Life to all that come unto him, & truly believe in him: 'Tis properly said of the Souls of Man and Woman in the Fall, that they are in Bondage and Cap∣tivity; that they are in Prison and Thral∣dom, till Christ bring them forth and de∣liver them: Psal. 142.1. Bring my Soul out of Prison that I may praise thy Name. And be

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sure he that brings the Soul out of Prison, does condescend to visit it in Prison. He that brings up the Soul out of the horrible Pit, does first descend or reach so low to fetch it up, or else it would alwayes remain thre.

§. 6. J. B. Antichrist's Transformations, pag. 9. The Seed is not to arise in man— And p. 25. I disown the arising of the Seed or God in man.

Answ. A sad Doctrine and State! That's because the Enemy is arisen to such a great hight in thee, that thou dost not own the arising of the Seed of God in thee: What Fruit canst thou bring forth to God, if thou dost deny the arising of his Seed in thee? 'Tis evident thy Heart is bad Ground, sto∣ny Ground and thorny Ground, in which the good Seed hath not taken Root, so as to spring up, and bring forth Fruit unto Perfection; for in the good Ground or honest Heart it takes Root downward, and brings forth Fruit upward. And they that take heed unto the Light of Christ in them, where it shines but as in a dark place, they come to see the Day dawn, and the Day-Star arise in their Hearts: And is not Christ Jesus the bright and Morning Star? But thou, as an enemy to the Seed of God, disownest the arising of his Seed in thee.

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Howbeit, that His Light doth ARISE: The brightness of his RISING: He shall grow up: Truth shall SPRING out of the Earth: The Sun of Righteousness shall ARISE: The Day spring: Let God ARISE and his Ene∣mies be scattered, &c. The Word of God grew: So mightily grew the Word of God and pre∣vailed. These are Scripture Terms and Language, though little heeded by thee: We shall see more of thy absurd and erro∣nious Disownings and Denyings anon, con∣cerning the very Christ of God, and the Soul, &c. But how comest thou to deny the arising of the Seed in man, when thou hast espoused and cited what G. B. writ as thou sayest, against that Paper of Orders, &c. see∣ing he herein plainly saith, The Revelation of God is to his Seed, and his secrets he reveals to it, for which he made the World, and for whose sake it is continued; And now the SEED IS RAISED to reign over all. (Thus far G. B. thy authority.) But how shamefully hast thou contradicted him in this matter, in thy disowning the arising of the Seed in Man?

§. 7. J. B. You do preach both Salvation and Justification, and also Condemnation to us Gentiles, by the man Christ, the Son of God, as other Professions do; and this Doctrine I would have you to prove, because you preach

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Salvation by Christ the Light within.—You Preachers do say in your Declaration, that the Son of God is come, and hath given you an understanding; the which Doctrine I do deny, ONE BLOW, p. 20.

Answ. Thou that canst not reconcile (or see the consistency of) Salvation by the Man Christ Jesus, AND by his Light within, art gone from his Light into Imaginations. Why hast thou not better observed the Go∣spel preached by the Angel of the Lord to the Shepherds, concerning Jesus Christ the Son of God, Luke 2.11. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord; see also Mat. 1.21. Read also good Old Simeon's Testimony, which he gave of the Lord's Christ, Luke 2.26, 27, 28. And also read Verse 30, 31, 32. For mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation, which thou hast prepared before the Face of all People, a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of thy People Israel. The true Christ of God is but one, though he hath appeared in divers manners, both in the Flesh and in the Spirit; he is the Light; he is the Way to the Father; he is the Saviour; he is the one Mediator betwixt God and Man, even the Man Christ Jesus, the heavenly, glori∣ous Man, the Man that was promised to be for a hiding place, who in the dayes of his Flesh, said, I am the Light of the World

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And, He that is with you, shall be in you. As he was the eternal Word, the Son of God; the Life that was in him was the Light of men (John 1.) both before his coming in the Flesh, and ever since, and therefore he was that true Light that en∣lightens every man that cometh into the World; he was given for Life and Salva∣tion: This our one Lord Jesus Christ is our Light, Life and Salvation, he is also Judge of quick and dead, that MAN by whom God will judge the World in Righ∣teousness; he that believeth not in his Name, is condemned already; and This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World (i. e. the Light of the Son of God) and Men love Darkness rather then Light, John 3. see also 2 Thes. 1.7, 8. When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire, taking Ven∣geance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel, &c. Then such shall know him their Judge and Condemner unto their deserved punishment; see Verse 9.

J. B. You Teachers do hold forth to us Gen∣tiles Christ the Son of God, to be our Way to the Father; The which Doctrine I would have you to prove; One Blow, p. 20.

Answ. What defidence and unbelief hath entred thee? Christ the Son of God testi∣ed, John 14.6. I am the Way, the Truth,

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and the Life: No man cometh unto the Father but by me; and no man cometh unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. Wherefore in that no man cometh unto the Father but by the Son, the Son is the way to the Father, and the Father's drawing or teaching reacheth unto man, before he come to the Son or Father, that he may be drawn and come to both. No mans knows the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. Therefore Christ the Son of God, is the way to the Father out of Adam in the fall (if thoul't believe him) and 'Tis by one Spirit through Jesus Christ (the Mediator) that we have access to the Father.

§. 8. J. B. In his gross Errors detected, or many of the Doctrines of the leading Quakers disowned, as coming from an Antichristian Spirit, p. 1. he saith, John Webb's Doctrine was, That God's appearance in the Sons and Daughters of men, is to beget and bring forth that innocent Birth and Babe immortal, &c. This Doctrine doth signifie that God's appear∣ance is to his Son Christ Jesus, and for the be∣getting and bringing of him forth in the Sons and Daughters of men; the which Doctrine I do deny.

Answ. First, God's appearance in the Sons and Daughters of men, is not to bring forth a nocent Birth, nor a Babe that's mor∣tal,

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but an innocent Birth, and a Babe im∣mortal. Except a man be Born of Water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God: And whosoever is born of God, doth not commit Sin, for his Seed remaineth in him.

Secondly; This innocent Birth, which God by his Spirit brings forth in the Sons and Daughters of men, who truly believe, relates to them and their souls, as begotten and born of the immortal seed, by the li∣ving word: so that this Birth is not Christ Jesus; for he is that incorruptible Seed and Word of Life, which begets, forms and brings forth the Soul of man into his own Nature and Image, and so he renews his own Image in man, that believes in his Power; and so Christ may be said to be formed in us, as in a mysterious and elegant way of speaking: the property and effect being put for the cause; for Christ in himself hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him, and it hath pleased the Father that all ful∣ness should dwell in him.

J. B. That God's appearance is in and by his Son Christ Jesus to us, and that all are to hear the Son in them, by whom the Father speak∣eth to them, and that the Son in us is our way to the Father; The which Doctrine I do deny. His gross Error, p. 1.

Answ. Here thou hast denyed sound Do∣ctrine, which is according to Christs own

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Doctrine, i. e. He that seeth me, seeth the Father also: who hath shined in our Hearts, to give us the Light of the Knowledge of his Glory in the face of Christ Jesus: And my Sheep hear my Voice, saith Christ: And God hath spoken to us by his Son. Thy denying God's appearing, and speaking by his Son, and his Son to be our way to the Father▪ Herein thou hast not only denyed Christ's own Testimony, but the blessed advantage we have by him as MEDIATOR.

J. B. Another of their Doctrines is, That the Quakers ought so to wait upon God, as that they may feel the Life in them to flow from Vessel to Vessel, whenas they are met together to wait upon God. This was Charles Marshalls Wife's Doctrine, p. 2 ibid.

Answ. This is neither false Doctrine nor gross Error, as thou imaginest, but sound Doctrine; Hannah Marshall knew better than thy self herein; for they that truly wait upon God, both receive an encrease of Life from him who is the Fountain, and feel Life to flow from Vessel to Vessel; He that believes as the Scripture saith, out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Waters; This spake he of the Spirit, which they that be∣lieve should receive. And the true Believers all drink into One Spirit. And there is among such a spiritual and effectual Communica∣tion of Faith and Virtue, in the living

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Communion of the holy Spirit; all which thy dark Imaginations have deprived thee of.

J. B. These Doctrines of the Quakers are false Doctrines and Antichristian, because that God's Appearance is not by his Son Christ Jesus to us, p. 3.

Answ. Thou art guilty of Antichristian Doctrine, and Anti-scriptural also, in de∣nying God's Appearance to be by his Son Christ Jesus, The Mediator; for what God is to us for our Salvation, and what good we receive from him for our Souls, and what we are unto him in our Obedience (as ac∣ceptable to him) 'tis all IN and Through our Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator.

J. B. That God, who is a Spirit, should be held in Bondage and Captivity by his Creation, or by the Power of Darkness, is contrary to Right Reason—So that it must needs follow by plain Argument, that not only the Creature, but the Power of Darkness too hath had Domi∣nion over God—contrary to sound Doctrine, and is Blasphemy, pag. 5, 6. GROSS ERRORS.

Answ. This thou hast often unjustly and slanderously repeated upon the Quakers; and herein I testifie against thy Abuse, and dare Challenge thee to prove out of any of our Writings, that 'tis the Quakers Doctrine, That either God is held in Bondage or Captivi∣ty

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by his Creation, or that the Power of Dark∣ness hath Dominion over him. We utterly deny the Assertion and Expressions as Blas∣phemous; but do say, the holy Spirit is grieved, and the Seed of God burdened by the Iniquities of the World, which suffer∣ing is in Condescention on Christ's part, and not for want of Power or Dominion over the Devil or Wicked men; for he bruiseth his Head, hath Power to subdue, condemn and punish them, and his own Arm to bring Salvation to him.

J. B. Another of their Doctrines, That all are to come to the Son of God, Christ Jesus, whom they say is in them, and that he is the only Way to the Father; which Doctrine I do deny, because it is God who both was and is a Spirit, which hath first appeared in and to the Sons and Daughters of men, after sin, &c.— Therefore every one is to be first turned to God in their own particulars, and NOT to the Son of God, p 8. Gross Errors.

Answ. This Erronious Denyal and Do∣ctrine of thine, against coming to the Son of God, as the only Way to the Father, is but the same reiterated over and over. The Father and the Son are not divided in the work of Regeneration. I and my Father are one, saith Christ: No man cometh to the Father but by me. But 'tis no marvel that thou hast denyed Christ (the Mediator) to

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be the way to the Father, and so opposed his Mediatorship; for thy Denyals and Op∣positions appear more Gross, Erronious and Antichristian against Christ himself and the holy Scriptures in thy Antichrist's Trans∣formations.

1st, In thy not owning Justification or Con∣demnation by Christ * 1.4 that dyed without the Gates of Je∣rusalem; which thou con∣fessest to be the ground and main Difference that arose be∣tween some of the Quakers and thee, p. 10.

2dly, In thy asserting, That Christ's Soul dyed, p. 19. * 1.5 And so thy holding the the Mortality of the Soul in general.

3dly, Thy asserting, That the Book of the Scriptures both was and is the fruit which the Tree of Knowledge bears, p. 22.

4thly, Thy affirming, That there is Two Christs, p. 23. Thus thou arguest.

§. 9. J. B. It is no where written in the Scriptures, that we shall either be justified or condemned by that Christ which dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem; but it is written, By Grace ye are saved, and by Grace ye are justified; and 'tis also written, By the Light of the World ye are condemned; and not by

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Christ that dyed without the Gates of Jerusa∣lem, Antichr. Transf. p. 17.

Answ. Here again thy erronious Blind∣ness is apparent, who seest not how consi∣stent being saved and justified by that Christ who is the very Christ of God, to whom all the Prophets gave witness, AND being saved and justified by his Grace; both which the holy Scripture testifie. Isa. 53.11. By his Knowledge shall my Righteous Servant justifie many; for he shall bear their Iniquities. This was a Prophecy of the same Christ that suffered; and Mat. 1.21. She shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his Name Jesus, for he shall save his People from their Sins; and verse 23. Behold, a Virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and his Name shall be called Emanuel, which being interpreted, is, God with us: And Luke 2.11. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Sa∣viour, which is Christ the Lord. And that Grace by which we are saved, is that Grace of God which comes by Christ; see also Tit. 2.11, 12, 13, 14. Where the saving Grace of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity &c. are testified of; and therefore Salvation by that Christ, through his Grace are not Inconsistent.

J. B. Now if Salvation be by that Christ that dyed without the Gates at Jerusalem, then

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are all the Gentiles perished that were in the World before that Body came into the World, Antich. Trans. p. 18.

Answ. Thy consequence is erronious; for that very Christ, the Son of God, was (and is) Mediator and Saviour from the beginning; his outgoings were from of Old, he was spiritually in being by his Life, Light, Spirit and Grace before he took upon him that Body prepared of the Father to do his Will. John bore witness of that Man Christ, saying, He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for he was before me, John 1.15. And again, vers. 30. After me cometh a man which is preferred before me, for he was before me: Therefore the Man Christ Jesus was before he came in the Body or Flesh: He was that spiritual Rock which all Israel drank of; his Life was the Light of men from the beginning, and all the gene∣rations of the Righteous did spiritually prtake of the benefit of Christ as Mediator, both before and after his Coming in the flesh they vertually pertook of the Sacrifice of the Lamb, of the vertue of the Blood of the Covenant for Remission, and were saved by the Life of this Mediator; by Faith they pertook of the spiritual Advan∣tage of his suffering and sacrifice, who was as a Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World, and as (in the fullness of time) his

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coming and suffering in the flesh, and his tasting Death for every man, and his giving himself a Ransom for all, were for a Testi∣mony in due time of God's great kindness to Mankind. So Christ's coming in the flesh an eminent Dispensation from God, ordained and decreed in great love to Mankind: So that thereby a greater and more eminent discovery and breaking forth of his Light and Glory in the Gospel Day and Dispen∣sation was manifest in due time, which Glory the holy spirit of Christ in the holy Prophets testified of, as that which should follow his sufferings; and in him are all Nations and Families of the Earth blessed and saved, who believe and walk in his Light.

J. B. All the World was freed from their Offerings for sin by that one Offering—recon∣ciled to God by the death of his Son—But we must be redeemed, justified and also saved by a measure of the same Life that dwelt in the Son, in which Life the Son of God offered up his Soul and Body to be crucified to the Death a Sacrifice once for all * 1.6 Then NO Salvation to the Souls of the Sons and Daughters of men by him that dyed without the Gates at Jerusalem, p. 19. Anti. Trans∣formations.

Answ. An erronious Inference still, and

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most blindly reiterated; for if we must be saved by that Life that was in the Son of God, how darest thou deny Salvation to the souls of Mankind by him that so suffered and dyed? seeing we are reconciled by his Death; who dyed and rose again, and Death has no more dominion over him? And hast not thou confessed that we are reconciled by his Death, so we shall be saved by his Life?

Well, by whose Life? by the Life of the very same Christ of God, who (as con∣cerning the flesh) was put to Death. And was his Death then no ways conducing to our Salvation? How are we then recon∣ciled by it? Is Reconciliation no degree of Salvation? Surely thou art under great Contradiction and gross Mistakes in this matter.

To thy Objection, That Mary saith, her Soul did magnifie the Lord, and her Spirit did rejoyce in God her Saviour, p. 21. And that God said, Look unto Me all ye Ends of the Earth, and be saved, p. 23.

This is no proof that his Son Jesus Christ was No Saviour; for God saves by his Son; God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself; God works by the Mediator; and Jesus Christ, who is the Saviour and the Redeemer is both truly God and Man Inseparable.

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But how comest thou off in answer to the Objection made against thee, (viz.) If no Salvation by that Christ that dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem, then thy Doctrine implyeth two Christs, which we do not profess, nor preach, nor own; for in words thou over and over tellest us of that Christ that dyed without the Gates, and that he was the Son of God, the Christ of God, &c. What sayst thou to this? Review thy following words:

J. B. (viz.) Now that there are two Christs, it is plain according to the Scriptures; for there is both the true Christ and Antichrist, p. 23.

Rep. Oh, sad and lamentable! How absurdly, blindly and erroniously hast thou answered here! The Objection or Question against thee was not about Anti∣christ, but about the True Christ, who is the very Christ of God, who was crucified at Je∣rusalem, and is in his Saints (by his Light, Life and Spirit) whom thy Doctrine tends to render Two Christs, and so to divide the True Christ; but we testifie he is but One; As to us there is but ONE GOD, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and ONE Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him, 1 Cor. 8.6. And of this ONE Lord Jesus Christ the true Apostles testified as One and the same Christ, though he variously appeared, according to what is written of him, (1 Cor. 15. & 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,

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verses) of his Death and Resurrection, and how he was seen of many, And last of all he was seen of me also, (saith Paul) as of one born out of due time, v. 8. This was ONE and the SAME CHRIST still.

§. 10. J. B. Now Christ he neither came of David, nor yet of Israel, according to the Flesh; not as to his outward appearance as he was a visible Man; but he came of David and Israel both, according to the Spirit: And this is the Spirit whom God hath exalted, both as a Prince and a Saviour; Anti. Trans. p. 23.

Answ. This is a gross Mistake, and Con∣tradictory to plain Scripture; see Rom. 1.3, 4, 5. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the Flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with Power, according to the spirit of Holiness, by the Resurrection from the dead; by whom we have received GRACE and Apostleship for obedience to the Faith among all Nations for his Name; see also Rom. 9.5. But thou sayst, He neither came of David, nor yet of Israel according to the flesh, quite contrary to the Apostle's testimony; Which shall People believe, thee or the Apostle? Surely not such a blind, muddled, confused, dark and dull Soul as thou art. I wish thee (with the Light of Christ within, on the holy Scriptures) to recollect thy self

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better, that thou mayst repent, and con∣demn, and call in thy muddled, confused, distracted, whimsical and mad Pamphlets, that would be the safest way for thee upon all accounts; for thou hast no matter of Religion to suffer for, thy hope being in this Life only according to thy Principle of the Soul's Mortality.

J. B. He that dyed without the Gates at Jerusalem—he was the Christ of God, being one with the Spirit of God; but it was the Womans part * 1.7 that dyed, that was his * 1.8 Soul and Body.— Now Christ as he was a visible Man, and made of a visible Woman made under the Law, he INTERNALLY DY∣ED, as to his SOUL and BODY; Antichrist's Transformations, pag. 19.

Answ. Oh poor Jeffery! Whither art thou run in thy whimsical Conceits, and distracted Imaginations, one while to DE∣NY Jesus Christ the Son of God, to be the Way to the Father; another while to DE∣NY Salvation by him; another while to DENY the Immortality of his Soul; and here most erroniously to AFFIRM, That his Soul dyed, and that he internally dyed as

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to his Soul. Oh! Antichristian and Anti∣scriptural Doctrine! For though he was put to death only as to his Body, his Soul dyed not with it; for he said, Father, into thy Hands I commend my Spirit, Luke 23.46. see Acts 7.59. And to the penitent Thief, To Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, Luke 23.43. Therefore his Soul (or Spi∣rit) dyed not with the Body, he did not internally dye, he dyed only as to the Body, being put to death as concerning the Flesh, and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures; and Death has no more dominion over him. And although it be said, He hath poured out his Soul unto Death: This concerned the travail of soul, and sorrows of death, which he was under the sence of, when he said, My Soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, Matth. 26.38. whilst yet his soul was living and immortal in its own being, praying and making in∣tercession unto the Father: For pouring out the Soul or Heart, sometimes (in Scripture) imports an earnest supplication to God, and travail in Prayer; Psal. 42.4. I pour out my Soul in me. And Psal. 62.8. Pour out your Heart before him, God is a Refuge for us. The soul of Messiah was poured out in Prayer and Supplication to the Father, whilst in great sorrow and deep suffering for Mankind, even when he bore the Sin of

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many, and made intercession for the Transgressors.* 1.9 Thus his soul was poured out, and made an offering for Sin, that he might see his Seed, and the effect of his Souls travail, and be satisfied, and through all Reign with the Father in the same Glory which he had with him be∣fore the World began. So that the Mes∣siah reigneth in Life, Glory and Immor∣tality, blessed forever; and his Saints shall reign with him for evermore.

But thy Error ends not here, in asserting that Christ's Soul dyed, seeing thou hast pub∣lickly opposed the Immortality of the Soul in my hearing, and the hearing of many more, and hast affirmed, The mortality of the Soul of man, that it dyes with the Body. And so denying future States, Beeings and Rewards of mankind. Thou knowest (Jeffery) I have laboured with thee at sun∣dry times, and before several endeavour∣ed to Convince thee of thy Atheistical Er∣ror in this very point; and many are my Witnesses therein: But thou hast ap∣peared wilful, dark and pertinacious in thy blind, dark and confused Imaginations, whereupon I have exhorted thee, and do exhort thee, to give over Preaching, and telling People of saving their Souls by the Word, and of raising of our Souls out of the

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Grave of Sin and Death, by the Light and Power of God within, when thou dost not believe any Immortality of the Souls of Men, more than of a Beast, as I have told thee to thy Face; when the Beast dyes, there's an end. So what gross Hypocrisie is it in thee so often to Preach in Friends Meetings at Sudbury, in opposition to our Friends, and to pretend, as if thou hadst such a great Regard to Peoples Souls, that they might be saved, raised up, and delivered from Sin in this Life, when thou hast no∣thing further to propose to them, than only a Hope in this Life, a Happiness in this Life, a Portion in this Life? which is so short and uncertain, that the dayes of Man here are compared but to a Shadow,* 1.10 and to a Cloud that vanishes, and as being swif∣ter than a Post, or than a Tale that's told, and swifter than a Weavers Shuttle, &c. So that if we have hope in this life Only, we are of all men most miserable. But I cannot take thee as a Person consistent with thy self, in this thy Atheistical Doctrine of the Soul's Mortality, no more than in other things; for thou art manifestly inconsistent and contradictory to thy self in this mat∣ter; for in thy Pamphlet (i. e. GROSS ER∣RORS)

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thou hast confessed,* 1.11 That Christ's Soul never was captivated, p. 4. And, That the Blessing is to God's invisible Cre∣ation within the Sons and Daughters of men, as that cometh to be begotten by a measure of divine Life, into a true and living Faith; the which invisible Creation (sayest thou) or the Souls and Vnder∣standings of men and women, over the which Death, that power of Darkness hath invisibly reigned, p. 3. And, That Mi∣nistry which is sent of God, it is to the Souls and Vnderstandings of Men and Women—That so their Souls may be turned to the Light, or measure of divine Life which hath appeared to their Souls, p. 4. As also thou sayest, That God's appearance is both to the Souls and Vn∣derstandings of the Sons and Daughters of Men, even whilst they are altogether Children of the Vnrighteous Nature and Spirit, for that very end, that so they may be quickned, and also raised up, and so come to be changed, they being made partakers of the Divine Nature, pag. 7.

Query: How then dost thou affirm that such Souls are Mortal? This change in such Souls does not only bespeak their Immor∣tality, but their being Immortally happy:

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Is not that Soul or Birth immortal that's capable of partaking of the divine Nature, or that doth partake thereof? Can that Soul dye with the Body, or end in Morta∣lity? No, no; the very Souls of the Wick∣ed, and impenitent workers of Iniquity, shall live in Torment, where the Worm dyeth not, and the Fire is never quenched; Christ's instance of Dives and Lazarus doth really intimate the two different states hereafter; see Luke 16.22, 23. &c. How grosly Erronious and Contradictory art thou in this point? and farther to thy own confutation, addest, (viz.) Thus the Sons and Daughters of Vnrighteousness come to be made the Children of Righteousness, they being changed, and also lifted up by the Spirit of Life from under the power of Death, into the Kingdom of God, with him to reign over the Power of Death, even as the Son of God did in the dayes of his Flesh, p. 7.

How now Jeffery? These passages re∣lating to the Soul's conversion, and their being made partakers of the Divine Na∣ture, and being lifted up into the Kingdom of God, are some of thy better sort of Prea∣ching; but thy Doctrine of the Soul's mor∣tality, or the Soul's dying with the Body, doth allow the Souls of the Children of men, even of the Converted, but a very short share, and uncertain time in the Kingdom

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of God, if but in this Life only. O Jeffery! give over thy troublesom, hypocritical Preaching in our Friends Meetings for shame, and never pretend such a concern for the Conversion and Salvation of Peoples Souls, whilst thou holdest this Atheistical Opinion, That they are all Mortal. Keep at home, and give over such Hypocritical Preaching, for 'tis neither Conscientious nor Religious.

§. 11. Now concerning the Scripture, thy Doctrine followeth.

J. B. (in his Antichrist's Transformations, p. 22.) saith, (viz.) For the Book of the Scriptures both was and is the Fruit which the Tree of Knowledge bears. And in his Testi∣mony against the Quakers false Doctrine (as he falsly calleth it) page 19. He saith thus, viz. The Book of the Scriptures is part of the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge— I say, that the Book of the Scriptures is the Fruit that the Tree of Knowledge bears.

Answ. This Doctrine is not only Un∣scriptural, but a dark, erronious Imagina∣tion and Whimsie of thy own: Thou knowest not whereof thou affirmest, and hast plainly contradicted thy self herein, by confessing not only, That the Scriptures are opened by the Spirit of Truth, but that They were given forth by the Word of Life, p. 22. and 29.

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Thou farther proceedest (like a whim∣sical, self-opposing and contradictory Per∣son) in these words, (viz.) Let all that read your Book, and also the Letter that was given me, which I disowned (which Letter is printed in my first Book) and they may easily perceive that the Line of your Testimony is in the Letter and Book of the Scriptures, and not in the Light and Law written in the Heart. Thus in thy Testimony, p. 19.

Here thou hast at one dash confuted and overthrown thy own Work, and knockt down thy own evil cause at one blow. Thou hast undertaken to detect the Quakers Er∣rors, and many of the Doctrines of the leading Quakers, as Erronious, Antichristian, &c. And, To give a Testimony against the Quakers false Doctrine, (as thou falsly callest it) even in the Titles of thy Pamphlets) but now confessest our Testimony is in the Let∣ter and Book of the Scriptures.

Thus hast thou denyed and opposed that Testimony which is in the Book of the Scriptures, and not only So, but most er∣roniously opposed the Light and Law writ∣ten in the Heart thereunto; when as they do agree, and the Scripture cannot be bro∣ken. Therefore Repent of thy vain and Antichristian opposition. Another Con∣tradiction is in thy following words (viz.)

J. B. Your Paper to the Churches is not to

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be owned by the Churches, inasmuch as it was written from a sight or a sence, and not in and from the Spirit of Revelation: Now whatsoever is written, declared, or given forth in the sight or in the sence, is not to be owned. Antichrist's Transformations, p. 2.

* 1.12And p. 25. ibid. I disown that to be any true Ministry for God, who in their Declarations do exhort both Friends and other People, to come to a sence, and to wait in a sence, and continue in a sence; for God is not a sence, neither is his Spirit a sence.

But in plain contradiction ereto, p. 9. Lazarus was raised, and so must we be raised by the same Voice, Spirit and Power, must we come both to FEEL and Witness Christ the Light within, to be our Resurrection, and our Life, by FEEL∣ING and Receiving his Power revealed from Heaven, &c.

Observe; Here thou hast confessed to the Truth of Feeling and witnessing Christ, Feeling and receiving his Power, &c. con∣trary to thy opposing and denying what's written in the sense, and exhorting Friends, &c. To come to wait and continue in a sence, whereas there is a spiritual sence and feeling of divine Life; there are spiritual Sences to be exercised by the holy Spirit, to discern between good and evil. There is a spiri∣tual

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seeing, tasting and handling of the Word of Life, but thou hast lost these Senses, thou art out of they right Senses, which makes thee so Sensless and Nonsensi∣cal in thy scribling, and full of rambling confused Whimsies, Delusions and dark Imaginations, which are the effects of thy Disobedience to, and Apostacy from the Light of Christ within, which convinced thee long ago.

§. 12. And now I would have thee observe thy manifest and practical Contradiction to a Passage in conclusion of thy Gross Errors, Postscript. The Passage is this, (viz.)

J. B. It is an Antichristian Spirit in all which leads People (under what Profession soever) to think of themselves above others, or to be in a better state than others, or to separate themselves from others, although their Souls may have seen by the Light within them beyond others; yet these ought not to separate themselves from others; for they have been Children of Darkness as well as others; for if they do separate themselves from others, then this holds forth a certain Testimony, that they do think of themselves above others, and also to be in a better state than others are in; so that this is all Antichrist's work.

Answ. Why dost thou then separate thy self from others, that is, from the Church

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of England? for by this Proposition thou oughtst not so to separate, nor to frequent the Quakers Meetings, nor to preach in them, whether thou thinkest thy self in a better state than those of the Church of England or not, or that thy Soul hath seen by the Light within beyond them, as doubt∣less thou thinkest thy self herein above them: On this Proposition of thy own thou oughtst not to separate, nor to preach in the Quakers Meetings. And if thou didst not think thy self to see with the Light within beyond them of the Church of England, there were no reason for thee then to separate from them. Behold! thy Practical Con∣tradiction and Ranterism, in thy Proposition or Doctrine against separating from others, on the account of seeing with the Light beyond them, which is to maintain a con∣fused mixture and society in Worship, be∣tween those that see with the Light, and those that see not with it, between the Seeing and the Blind, the Children of the Light and the Children of Darkness; for thy opposing a Separation from others is without distinction, and yet thou art in a Separation from others. Why separatest thou from the National Worship, and makest thy self a Preacher at the Quakers Meetings in Sudbury? when they disown

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thee, thy Preaching and Corrupt, Erronious and Antiscriptural Doctrine? As,

Thy Denying Christ, the Son of God, to be our way to the Father.

Thy Denying Salvation or Condemnation by the same Christ that suffered.

Thy Denying the Immortality of the Soul of Christ Jesus, or of any other Souls of Mankind, and affirming, That his Soul dyed, and that he internally dyed, as to his Soul, &c.

And thy asserting, The Book of the Scrip∣tures to be the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.

And thy Denying the Arising of the Seed of God and Christ in man.

And thy Denying to come to a Sense, and to wait in a Sense in thy self, and opposing preaching from a sight and sence; as in thy Antichrists Transformations, p. 2, 25.

Thy dark and erronious Doctrine and Preaching in these things the True Christian Quakers utterly deny, with many other dark erronious Positions, Whimsies, Con∣tradictions and blind Oppositions, Fals∣hoods and Abuses, foolish and unlearned Questions in thy Pamphlets here omitted; as also thy Hypocritical Preaching in pre∣tence, For the good of Souls, For the quickning of Souls, For the raising up of Souls, For the converting of Souls, That Peoples Souls may

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partake of the divine Nature, and be lifted up into the Kingdom of God, &c. Which though this be the best sort of thy Preaching, and in the best words thou hast, yet while thou denyest the Immortality of the Soul, and con∣cludest, They all dye with the earthly Taber∣nacles, and so a total end of all: This thy gross and Atheistical Error is enough to evince thy abominable Hypocrisie and Irreli∣giousness in the best sort of thy Preaching. And therefore give over thy preaching in our Friends Meetings, hold thy Tongue, lay thy hand upon thy Mouth, keep at home, and seriously bethink thy self, and remem∣ber from whence thou art fallen, and then condemn, retract and call in thy Erroneous and Antichristian Pamphlets. Remember I have herein given thee the safest Counsel, in Love and Friendship to thee, and to thy Immortal Soul, which shall remember me when thou art awakened under the hand of thy Righteous Judge, who is the Judge of all, to whom I can sincerely appeal, and commit my Christian and faithful Endea∣vours concerning these Controversies and Differences with thee and the rest concerned in this Treatise, you being all concerned in one Spirit of Opposition, Prejudice, Strife and Enmity, though thou hast exceeded the rest in thy Doctrinal part, in presumptuously at∣tempting such an Antichristian Confutation

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of the Quakers Doctrines. And with my solemn Appeal and Supplication I do Conclude.

OH! Thou Heart-searching God and righteous Iudge of all, unto thee I make my Appeal and Supplication, against this Jealous, Dividing, Rending Spirit that hath appeared in Strife and open Contention against thy Ser∣vants and faithful Witnesses, and against that good order and society that thou hast been pleased to gatber us into. Thou knowest the integrity of my soul before thee, and that I have waited for thy Counsel how to act and behave my self in these matters, and that I have not sought to exalt my self, nor any Popularity, Party or Interest to my self, but only thy Glory and the good of Souls. Thou knowest, that in the first place my soul hath sought for Peace in the way of Peace, and for a quiet Composure of Differences,

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occasioned by some Self-willed and Luke-warm Professors of thy Truth, whilst there was any hope or pro∣bability thereof, before the opposite Party became open Adversaries. And O Lord thou knowest I am not alone in this concern, many others of thy faithful servants have traveled in the same Christian Spirit with me, for peace and quietness, and for a quiet end of Differences in Truth and Righteousness: But thine and our Adversaries have rewarded us evil for good, and to me hatred for my love.

And now▪ O Lord, behold how true love and tenderness is rejected by thy Adversaries, and how thy holy spirit is offended! Behold and judge the bitterness of their spirits; Their Rancor and Fury, their Words of Hatred, Reviling and Slander against thy faithful Ser∣vants and Witnesses; Their Dis∣regard to the Honour and Reputation of thy Truth, thy Name and People;

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Their working against the Glory and Honour of thy excellent Name among us; Their crucifying thy Son afresh to themselves, and putting him to open shame and reproach in the Eyes of thy open Enemies and Persecutors of thy People.

Oh! Lord, Lord, look down, behold and judge for these things, show thy Power in putting an end as openly to these Controversies, as they are openly forced out into the World by Apostates and Adversaries of thy Truth and People.

Thou knowest, O Lord, that though thou hast endued me with a Christian Spirit, and with Faith, Patience and Rejoycing under all my Sufferings and Tribulations for thy Name sake, and enabled me patient∣ly to undergo the open Revilings and Infamies cast upon me, both by open, profest (and secret) Enemies; in all which I daily praise thy Name for thy Goodness. Yet thou hast also endued me with the Spirit of

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Righteous Judgment, Understanding and Zeal for the Glory of thy holy Name and Truth, and hast raised me up in defence of thy Gospel, to vindicate thy Truth and innocent People, who are Lovers of Peace and Union in thy Son Christ Iesus.

And now, O Lord, I humbly pray thee, preserve thy Lambs and tender Babes, and open the Eyes and unvail the Understandings of all whom the Enemy has deceived and prejudiced, who are mistaken in their Iudgments, and not guilty of willful Opposition and Hatred; That they that have not sinned out their day nor become judicially har∣dened, may yet find a place of Re∣pentance and Mercy, in returning to thee with Humility, true Contrition and Brokenness of Heart, that thou maiest heal their Backslidings, and love them freely.

O my God! in these my Labours and Endeavours, as I have eyed

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thee and thy Counsel, and thou hast been with me, for which I praise thy Name. So I recom∣mend all to thee, to manifest the real intent and end of all, and to plead and justifie my Cause, it being thy own Cause, and the Cause of thy whole Heritage: Amen, Amen, saith my Soul.

Notes

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