The son of perdition revealed by the brightness and light of the Son of God in his saints, and the preachers of his light within and their doctrines & principles (concerning the mysteries of God & the weighty things of salvation) vindicated and cleared ... / by the light of the Son of God in his servants Geo. Whitehead & Edw. Burroughs.

CHAP. XI. Concerning the word of God and the Scriptures, and the word and writings truly distinguished. (Book 11)

NOw I passe over to his fifth Chapter, as finding lit∣tle to oppose between the 192. page and the 205. excepting half a score of Lyes which I leave till J. W. and I meet, which I hope may be in a good season; and his fifth Chapter contains, Concerning the Scrip∣tures and the word of God, and he charges us that we deny the Doctrine of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa∣ment to be the word of God, and uses reproachful language concerning it, and speaks of one laying the Bible upon the ground and setting his feet upon it, and we delight to abuse the Scriptures, and are filled with rage against the Word of God, and that we foam out disdain against the Scriptures, and then takes in hand to prove the Scriptures to be the VVord of God, &c. page 205.

Answ. 1. Here is a grievous charge laid down and managed in manner as aforesaid, for it is utterly false that we use any reproachful language concerning the holy Scriptures, neither ever have I known any of us

ever set his feet upon the Bible in contempt and a∣buse of the Scriptures, as he saith, though it is very true there was one Richard Stokes in the North of En∣gland that was then an Anabaptist, (so called) and so yet for ought I know, that did in contempt and scorn tread upon the Bible in the presence of many witnes∣ses, so it may be J. W. mistakes one of his own friends and thinks he is one of ours, for it is not delightful in us to abuse the Scriptures, nor are we filled with rage against the Word of God, nor do we foam out disdain against the Scriptures, these things are utterly false.

2. This Testimony we have often given concerning the Scriptures, and here again I give it upon this oc∣casion; The Scriptures are writings in which are con∣tained many words of God, and may be properly cal∣led the words of God declared by writing, and as they were given forth by the Spirit of God, and no whit altered in Translation, they are a perfect Testimony of God, and his works, of Christ, and his Salvation, and of the Experiences and Testimonies of the Ser∣vants and holy men of God, and also in the Scrip∣ture is contained many words of the Devil, and the words of wicked men, so that the Scriptures are a true Testimony (as they were first given forth) of all these things, and we believe that the Scriptures were spo∣ken forth by the holy Spirit, as the holy men of God were moved thereunto, and whatsoever is written ought to be believed and received for Truth, and a true re∣lation given by the Spirit of God; but the Scriptures cannot properly be called the Word of God, for they are words and writings, and admits of alteration and change, and therefore cannot properly be called the word of God, but onely a Declaration of the Word, and of that Truth which lives and abides for ever, and which must be believed and practised for Salva∣tion; and the Scriptures do say that the Word of God was in the beginning, but the Scriptures began but to

be written by Moses, which was many hundred of years since the beginning, and therefore the Scriptures can∣not be the word of God which was in the beginning; Again the Scriptures do say that the Word of God made the world, and lives, and abides for ever; but the Bible, the Scriptures did not make the World, nor can abide for ever, but will passe away as we see daily Books wears away, though the Truth therein declared of shall abide for ever, and therefore the Scriptures are not the Word of God which must endure for e∣ver; and thus we do distinguish, and we would have all to do so, between the Book (the writings) which are most properly called Scripture, and that Truth, Salvation, Word of Life, and the things declared of in Scriptures, the one endures for ever, the other not, the one is the Word of God, the other a Testimony of it; and thus we distinguish, and yet not denying the Truth and Life, and Salvation and Redemption, nor the Christ which the Scriptures speaks of, but fully acknowledging that they are infinite and everlasting, and the Scripture declare of these things but are not the things themselves; neither do we deny to ascribe all lawful Dignity and Title and Reverence to the Scriptures, but yet we cannot account them what they are not, nor give that honour to them which God gives not, nor which he appointed them to receive, though further we do acknowledge there is no other Gospel, nor way of Life and Salvation, nor no other Christ for Redemption and Eternal Life, nor no other Truth for substance but what is declared of in the Bible, which we do account as I have said as it was given forth by the Spirit of God, to be a true Testi∣mony of all these things; this and such like Testimo∣nies we have often given concerning the Scriptures, yet still acknowledged Christ Jesus to be the word of Eternal Life, he and no other, and yet this confession we make, not contrary unto or to oppose, but accor∣ding unto the Scriptures, and our Testimonie con∣cerning

the Scriptures is so well known both by word and writing for these many years, that I need not here say much more in this case, onely that the Scrip∣tures all along calls Christ the Word of God, and no where that I know of in the Scriptures doth it call it self the Word of God, but a Declaration and a Treatise, Luke 1. Acts 1.

And whereas J. W. saith, Is not the Truth exprest in the Scriptures eternal and incorruptible? and what lesse then an Almighty hand hath preserved that Book? and this is devised deceitful Doctrine to teach all men to hearken to the Light within them, thereby to turn away their minds from the Scriptures; And he mentions that Scripture the words of the Lord, and every word of God are pure, and the entrance of thy word gives Light, and my words shall not passe away, and whosoever shall be ashamed of my words, &c. page 208, &c.

Answ. To all this I answer, why is J. W. so blind as to bring this in opposition to us, as if he confuted us in something we held contrary to this, when as it is nothing so, for we say the same as these Scriptures testifie, that the Truth expressed in the Scriptures is eternal and incorruptible, yet the writings which are properly Scriptures will corrupt and change and alter, and we do know the hand of God hath been in preserving of that Book to this day, and our benefit by the Scrip∣tures are not the least of others, as I might instance in divers particulars, and we confesse fully to the Truth of all these Scriptures cited by him, and there is not any one of them opposite to us in any thing that we hold; but why doth he secretly here weave in his slan∣der, as if we did direct People to the Light within them, thereby to turn their minds from the Doctrine of the Scrip∣tures, which is utterly false, for we direct People to the Light of the Spirit of God within them, not con∣trary to, or to make void the Scriptures to them, but according to the Scriptures, and that they may come to the fulfilling of them, and witnesse the Truth wrought

in them whereof they speak, and therefore his secret slander is turned out of doors; and further he falls out in high tearms, that God will punish such severely as do speak against the Scriptures, and do disdain and reproach them, and that do add to or take from them, and against such as do vent their rage against the Scriptures, and tread them under their feet, as the Adversaries of Christ, the Preachers up of the Light within do, saith he, who are Blasphemers of God and his Truth, when they cast the Scriptures on the ground, and call the Scriptures lifeless, &c. page 212.

Answer, These Threatnings and Judgements do not belong to us, as not being guilty of his charge, so let the judgement be to himself, for we are not guilty, but he guilty of wickedness in charging us so falsly, like as if he had given up himself to rail and accuse the innocent; for be it known to J. W. we esteem as well and truly of the Scriptures as he doth; And thus I count it a sufficient answer to deny his false Charges, and to turn back his own sentence to him again, God will punish him severely for his wickedness.