The Christian-Quaker and his divine testimony vindicated by Scripture, reason, and authorities against the injurious attempts that have been lately made by several adversaries, with manifest design to rendor him odiously inconsistent with Christianity and civil society : in II parts. / The first more general by William Penn ; the second more particular by George Whitehead.

THE CONTENTS OF A Bill of Excommunication, Exhibited by the Baptists at CHICHESTER; Together with a Brief Answer thereunto.

THe Evils for which the Church of Christ Meeting at* 1.1 Chichester have cast out of her Communion John Richardson.

Answ. We deny you to be the Church of Christ; you do but presume and beg the Matter in Controversie; you are in Envy and Darkeness, as will further appear from your Blasphemy against the Light; for if we say, we have Fellowship with God, and walk in Darkness, we lye and do not the Truth; but you pretend your selves to be his Church, consequently, to have Fellowship with him, and yet both walk in Darkness, and slight the Light within, and dispise Exhortation to harken to it; therefore you lye (in saying you are the Church of Christ) and do not the Truth; so that in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ, we deny your pretended Power and Authority of Excom∣munication and Condemnation.

First, For withdrawing himself from the Church of Christ* 1.2 refusing to come to her Assemblies which practise is sin.

Answ. You blind and confused Men; did you not say just before, that your Church had cast him out of her Communion: but now you excommunicate him for with∣drawing himself from you: It seems then, he excommu∣nicated himself, there was no need of your Excommunication.

2dly, For siding and taking Part with William Steel,* 1.3 in some of these things for which the Church did deal with W. S.

Answ. What these things are, will further appear hereaf∣ter, together with these Baptist's Envy and gross Ignorance.

3dly, For siding, owning and mixing with the People called* 1.4 Quakers, who are of diabolical heritical Opinions, who under Pretence of Preaching up, that all Persons should harken to a Light within, do say, that Light is Christ.

Answ. Oh you malicious Blasphemers, you dark Cheats, and blind Guides: is it either diabolical or heretical to preach that all Persons should hearken to a Light with∣in? Or, that Christ is that true Light, that enlighten∣eth every Man coming into the World? For that's the Quakers Doctrine; and that in him was Life, and the Life was the Light of Men; is it diabolical, that they should take heed to this Life or Light which is both supernatural and divine? Oh you dark, sottish, Night∣Dreamers, when will you come out of your gross Darkness?

In which saying of theirs, there is these two abominable Lyes,* 1.5 first Lye, is their saying, that Christ is in every Man that cometh into the World, whereas the Scriptures say, where Christ is in Persons, the Body is dead to sin, &c. there is a People without God and Christ — in a reprobate State, in a Course of Life unappro∣ved of God — though under a Profession, as the Church at Corinth was — surely then may such be accounted without Christ, that are neither under a Profession nor Practice.

Answ. 1 You might as well deny Christ's Divinity and Deity, or his being the Eternal Word, as deny him to be that Light that enlightens every Man, or his Life to be the Light of Men.

2. Again, Its not our Doctrine to say, that Christ is so in every Man, prevailing or ruling, as that the Body is dead to Sin, nor is he revealedly or unitedly in every man; which the Phraise, Christ in you, or Christ dwelling in you, imports and includes the Saints being in him, as he saith, I in them and they in me; yet in some Sence, he is in all, and through all; or else he could not be God, nor Omni-pre∣sent;

and some Baptists themselves have confest, that Christ in Respect of his divine Nature, is every where; therefore he must needs be in Man; and in Respect to his divine Na∣ture, he is God, and God is Light, and in him is no Dark∣ness at all: They that are without God, and without Christ, and Reprobates, &c. Ephes. 2. 11, 12. 2 Cor. 13. 5. 2 Joh. 9. they are without God and Christ, or as being Strangers to both, and without the true and living Knowledge of them not as if God or his Light were limit∣ted to a Distinct or Remoteness of Place from them. For then, how were he either infinite or omni-present? But, as he was in the World, and the World was made by him, and the World knew him not, so some are without God; and know ye not how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be Repro∣bates? But you know not either Jesus Christ or his Light in you, who are blaspheming against his Light that is in every Man.

And having taken up the diabolical Conceit of having a* 1.6 Christ in every Man; then followeth the next notorious dam∣nable Heresie; namely, That Persons are to hear this their new conceited Christ, viz. The Light within; and so by this mears, preach down the Authority of the Scriptures; and so end•…•…a∣vour to undermine the true Gospel-Faith and Practise of Gos•…•…el Appointments.

Answ. 1. If it be a diabolical Conceit, that Christ is in some sence or degree in every man; then your own Brethren are guilty thereof, whose Concession is, that his divine Nature is every where; but I deny your Charge, it being blasphemous.

2. Your calling the Light within, a conceited Christ, and notorious damnable Heresie, that persons are to hear the Light within. This containes a two-fold blasphemy, both against the divine Principle of Light, and Doctrine di∣recting to it; for the Life which was in the Eternal Word, is that Light of Men which we affirm they ought to turn to, fear and obey, or else they perish; and so will you, if you continue in your Darkness, Envy and Blasphemy against the Light within.

3. You grosly bely us, in accusing us with preaching down the Authority of the Scriptures, underminding the Gospel Faith and appointments in our preaching up the

Light within; for without the minding and following the Light within, Men can neither truly understand the Scrip∣tures, nor come into the fulfilling of them, nor acceptably practice the Lord's Requirings or Appointments in the Gospel and new Covenant: And now comes into the true Gospel-Faith; but they that obey and believe in the Light, as Christ commanded, when he said, believe in the Light, that you may be the Children of the Light, you theresore who term this either damnable Heresie, or a conceited Christ, are guilty of damnable Doctrine against Christ's Doctrine and Light within: Had you been in his Dayes, its probable you would have joyned with the hypocritical Jews who persecuted Christ, with your Bill of Excommunication against him and his Apostles.

By such a Scriptureless Notion as is [Harken to the Light* 1.7 within] which Saying, is not only Scriptureless, but against the Scriptures, or the Way of God noted in the Scriptures of Truth.

Answ. You have said your worst against the Light within before, shewing that you do not harken to the Light of Christ within, but to your own Darkness within; however that you may see your Ignorance, & be convinc'd, that to harken, to obey, or believe in the Light within, is neither against the Scriptures, nor any Scriptureless Notion, as you falsly call it: See, Joh. 1. 4. 9. Act. 26. 18. Joh. 12. 36. Psa. 56. 13. Job. 25. 3. 1 Joh. 1. 7. Isa. 2. 5. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Rev. 21. 24. 1 Joh. 2. 9, 10.

For when Saul (who afterwards was called Paul) was conver∣ted,* 1.8 the Lord did not say, harken to the Light within thee; but go to Ananias, &c. Nor when the Angel was sent to Corne∣lius, did he Say, Harken to the Light within? but send for Peter, &c. Nor those that enquired of the Apostles what to do, the Connsel was not, Harken to the Light within, but Repent and be Baptized, Act. 2.

Answ. How grosly, silly and false is your arguing Asser∣tion (which is but Mat. Caffin's old Stufflong since answer'd) for was not Paul converted to the Light within, when he was sent to turn others from Darkness to Light? and what was that that prict him before? and could either hehave a Vision

of Ananias, or Ananias a Vision of him as praying, or could he be filled with the holy Ghost, as Ananias told him without respect to the Light within? How could he re∣ceive the pouring forth or Gift of the holy Ghost without regarding the Light within? And what is that in the Con∣science, which the Preaching of the Gospel is manifest unto? And did not Peter preach him and his Name to whom all the Prophets gave Witness? Act. 10. 43. And was not he that Light of the Gentiles promised? And did not Peter bear witness to the Light shining in a dark Place? 2 Pet. 1. 19. But your councel excludes the Light, and is not to harken to it, and yet exhort People to repent and be Baptized; it seems then they must do both these in Darkness: Oh Ignorant Men! how do you lead silly Wo∣men Captive blinsdold, and in darkness into your Water∣Baptism you never knew the Nature of true Repentance (nor the Spirit's Baptism) through which the Mind is chan∣ged from Darkness and Sin to Light and Righteousness.

And when the Man that came to Christ to know what to do to Inherit eternal Life, Christ did not say, Harken to the Light with∣in,* 1.9 Mar. 10. 17. Nor when Christ sent the Gospel to be preach∣ed to all Nations, he did not say, that such as harkened to a Light within should be saved, but he that believed and should be baptized should be saved, Mar. 16. 15. 16.

Answ. This Argues still your continued Darkness, that is to be felt; Can men believe, in herit eternal Life, keep the Commands of God, or be saved, and yet continue in Darkness, as you do who shut out the Light, and divert Peoples Minds from it, as much as in you lyes? Besides, you bely both Christ and the Apostles; for they preached up the Light within. As for your Water-Baptism, it is not the saving Baptism, as you Imply contrary to divers of your Brethren's Confessions, and to Peter's Testimony 1 Pet. 3. 21. But you are for believeing and being baptized; but not to harken to the Light within, wherefore we deny your dark and dead Faith, and your Night-Dipping; for you are in the dark in all you do, you are out of the Righ∣teousness of Faith which directs man to the Word that is nigh, even in the Heart, to obey it and do it.

For his not only taking that Scriptureless Liberty to go to a* 1.10 People that he before knew to be a people, who preach down the Way

of Gospel Appointments, but doth now himself plead for a Light within, as that which he is to be guided by, and not by the Scriptures, to judge whether that be Light or Darkness within him.

Answ. 1. Your Charge of preaching down the Way of Gospel Appointments is false; yet we deny, that you have a Commission from Christ to Baptize or plunge People in Water.

2. To be guided by the Light within, is that you still boggle at; but is this Matter worthy of Excommunicati∣on? the Darkness wherein you walk is sufficiently manifest, and therein you undertake to judge by the Scriptures, without the Guidance of the Light, that gave them forth, though the Light be most sufficient to discover it self and to make manifest all things that differ: for whatsoever things are reproved are made manifest by the Light.

Though Christ said, take heed least the Light within thee be* 1.11 not Darkness.

Answ. There were those that put Light for Darkness, and Darkness for Light, as you do; in which Sence Christ gives this Caution, if the Light that is in thee be Darkness, how great is that Darkness? Therefore it could not be really Light, neither can real Light be properly counted Darkness.

And for the Rule by which Christ saith, we shall be tryed at the* 1.12 great and last Day, is what he had spoken to the Sons of Men when in Person among them, Joh. 12. 48, 49. but now saith. J. R. we must try the Scriptures by the Light within.

Answ. The Words should rather be [We must make use of the Scriptures by the Light within] but Christ doth not say, that the Rule by which you shall be tryed at the last Day, is the Scriptures; you pervert his Sayings; but he sayes, he that rejecteth me and receiveth not my Words, hath one that Judgeth him, the Word, &c. Joh. 12. 48. For God will judge the secrets of Men by Christ Jesus; and his living Word (Christ being the universal Judge, and by his Law in them, their own Thoughts and Consciences bearing Witness in that day, for or against them: How∣be it, the Jews that sinned in the Law, were also Judged by

the Law (o•…•… Scriptures) for rejecting Christ, and so are you also, for contemning his Light within.

Oh horrible Prophanness! that ever any should dare to set up* 1.13 their own whimsical Imaginations above Christ's Sayings; and not only so, but condemn them where their erroneous Opinions cannot own them.

Answ. We perceive you have not one good Word for the Light within; you have called it as bad as you can; one while a diabolical Conceit, another while Damnable He∣resie, another while their new conceived Christ, another while scriptureless Notions, another while Darkness, and now tels of whimsical Imaginations; but erroneous opinions and •…•…phe∣mous, too are your own; and you have most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us; for Christ's Light within cannot lead us either to slight or condemn his sayings, but to fulfil them.

For refusing to hear the Counsel of the Church, wherein the* 1.14 Churches Endeavours have been to convince him of his Errors and to reclaim him.

Answ. It is easy to see what a Church you are, that blasphemes against the Light within, and do not admit of it in any Duty: a sad Church, thus to shut out and contemn the Light you are in thick Darkness until now; your Envy greatly blinds you; Therefore it is well not to hear your Counsel, seeing that it is to perswade us, not to harken to the Light within, and we will never harken to your dark∣ness, nor be led blindfold by you blind Guides.

And for the Churches Authority to Excommunicate Persons* 1.15 guilty as aforesaid, see 2 Thes. 3. 6. Rom. 16. 17. Mat. 18. 17, &c. The Apostles Way was one and the same in Every Church, 1 Cor. 4. 17. Written by me W. Flecher, W. Claton.

Answ. The true Church's Authority was given her by Christ, who is the true Light, and this we own, and reve∣rence the Power the Apostles had; but you falsly assume a Power, and pretend their Authority to excommunicate Persons for professing and owning his Light within; and (it seems) to cast out such as you needed not, who with-draw

themselves from you; whereas the true Church never cast out nor excommunicated Persons sor owning the Light within, but for running into the Deeds of Darkness: theresore in the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ we deny you, who are called Baptists and Anabaptists, to be the Church of Christ; we deny your Authority; we deny your Excommunication; we deny your blasphemous and scornful Doctrine against the Light within, and Exhort you to leave your Envy, and turn from your Darkness; and condemn your Blasphemy, and imbrace the Light of Christ within; lest you perish in your Darkness and Gain∣saying. Note that some of the Baptists and Apostates have up∣braided us for Excommunicating persons out of our society; but we never Excommunicated any for owning the Light within, but for their unfruitful works of Darkness. Hereafter follows a Rebuke to the Baptists and their Zion, or Church, from some of their Own Ministring Brethren, given out when they were more tender and free from Prejudice then now they are; and have confessed to those Truths (viz) the Immortal Seed, the Light, Trembling at God's Majesty, Travil of Soul, the Inward work, and Perfection, which now divers of them deride and oppose; also their reigning Abominations are confessed, which since are greatly increased against the Light, which then made some of them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their Iniquities, and to be∣wail them.

And this is recited, for these Baptists and their Hearers, to Remind them of the former Tenderness and Desires in some of their Brethren after an Amendment among them, and that these our present Opposers may consider and see how greatly they are declined, hardened and Apostatized from th•…•… good that formerly was stirring among them: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all which I desire their Return, Repentance and Con∣version to the true Light, that they may have regard to the Inward Work of God, to break their Hearts, and work out their Abominations, Pride and Envy, &c.

Some Confessions concerning the bapti∣zed Churches, made by their Messen∣gers in their bewailing Epistle from Twerton, dated the 18th Day of the 7th Month, 1657. and signed in their* 1.16 Names, and by their Appointments, by Thomas Colliar, Nath•…•…niel Strange and Thomas Glass, and directed, viz.

TO all the Churches of Jesus Christ, called to be Saints, through the Immortal Seed (a) 1.17 which dwelleth in you, and shall be with you forever.

A few poor Worms — we would labour night and day, warning every one of you, striving with you, and together with God for you, that every one of you may be presented perfect (b) 1.18 in Christ Jesus — The several Weights that lie upon you and us — we have been ready to cry out, we are cut off from before thine Eyes — while we carryed the Yoakes and Burthens of Zion, and have been as the Souls under the Al∣tar, crying, how long Lord, holy and true — The Lord hath lightned us, while we thus looked unto him — we could not be satisfied with Life for our selves, (c) 1.19 Some Revivings have attended our Souls — and now, as we have been faithful for you to God; So we would now be faithful for God to you.

We have been arraigning the Abominati∣ons of Zion besore the Bar of the most high; we have been crying for Justice from the Throne upon every Sin, for Strength and Light, (d) 1.20 to purge our every persisting impenitent Sinner, as Enemies and Traitors to the Crown & Dig∣nity of our Lord Jesus: More particularly, we have made Confession of those reigning Abo∣minations (e) 1.21 in our own Souls, and in the

Churches, of that light Spirit living short of the true Sight and Sense of God's Majesty, in his Churches, and among his Saints, from whence proceeds that Vanity and Carelesnes which doth so much attend them.

We have bewailed that wretched, world∣ly Spirit, that plucks down the Saints from their Excellency, and leaves such Blackness up∣on them (f) 1.22 which renders them so uncome∣ly in the Eyes of Men.

We have bewailed that Coldness and Dead∣ness that is upon our selves, and upon the Churches; that Formality in holy Duties, that Indifferency, and that Laodicean Spirit that is fallen in upon us (g) 1.23 while we have been crying, let him make Speed and hasten his Work, that we may see it; let the Counsel (h) 1.24 of the Lord come that we may know it; and all this while, we have been drawing Iniquity with Cords of Vanity, having been in a great Measure, as without the Sense of the Work; so without the true Travil of Soul (i) 1.25 which this Work should put us into — the Crown is fallen from Sion's Head by Reason of her Ini∣quity; we have been bewailing personal Ini∣quity, Congregational Iniquity, National Iniquity, Family Iniquity, Closet Iniquity; we have by Search found poor Sion, as it were without Soundness (k) 1.26 from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot, ful of Bruises and putrified Sores; your own poor Souls are in Distress, Heaven and Earth seem to frown — Oh! come down, sit in the Dust — and weep bitterly before the Lord for all your Abomina∣tions (l) 1.27 you have but as it were, played with God; you have not trembled in his Presence (m) 1.28 you have been wanton before him, ha∣ving been without the Terrour of his Majesty; therefore you have confessed, and have deligh∣ted to word (n) 1.29 it out with the Lord — Oh! how often have you mocked God? — It ap∣pears

already how God takes it at your Hands; We have begged him to save us, yet this once more, and truly we tremble — the Hope that is in Isra•…•…l — lies in your putting from you that accursed Thing; Oh! now if you would pursue this Worldliness, this Coldness and Sloathfulness, your personal Neglects, your Fa∣mily Neglects — how doth the World, as a Canker, eat out your Affections to the Lord Jesus, eat out your Time, your Strength, your Zeal, while you have been asleep in the Lap of this Da•…•…ilah, your Locks have been cut off, and you are but as other Men (o) 1.30 whoever be∣holds you may say, what singular thing do ye? Now then lay to Heart these crying Abomi∣nations — the World is too beautiful — this hath bewitched — you have fallen before your Enemies (p) 1.31 — this Iniquity hath been apparently written upon your Fore-heads, wit∣ness your Remissness in Meetings, your Neglect or the poor Saints & Ministers of Christ, whose daily Complaints and Addresses (q) 1.32 are living Monuments of this reigning Abomination, your Cruelty to Servants, Children, exacting all their Labours, but take no Time to counsel them, instruct them that are without Christ, that miserable Estate wherein they are — this hath made Professors Families so dry (q) 1.33 use∣less and unprofitable — this Sin eats out all of that divine Sweetness of regenerating, sancti∣fying Grace: We have mourned (r) 1.34 in that we have had so great a hand in this Trespass, in not bearing so faithful a Testimony against it in our Ministry; but slavish Fear of being ac∣counted selfish, or the like, hath stopt our Mouth (s) 1.35 until the Mouth of this Iniquity hath almost devoured the poor Churches of Christ — That of Sloathfulness and Careles∣ness, another reigning Evil — They are Evils rooted deeply in the Heart; it is hard to get them out (t) 1.36 They are Sermon-Proof and E∣pistle-Proof; so strong, that they have wrest∣ed

all Weapons out of the hands of Saints and Ministers, that have been formed against them: Now we desire we may no longer rest in a Te∣stimony of Words, but proceed to take some effectual Course, that Sin or Sinners may be purged out (v) 1.37 of the house of God; in order to this, we desire the Churches, that they would set some day or dayes a part, wherein they may bewail the Iniquities and Pollutions o•…•… Zi∣on before the Lord — also, that the Mini∣string Brethren would without Respect of Per∣sons (w) 1.38 bear their constant Testimony — war∣ning every one to f•…•…ee from these Abominati∣ons — Another Evil we had Thought to have spread before you (x) 1.39 for want of Opportunity, we shall now omit, yet desire you to lay it to Heart.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Baptist's Ex∣communica∣tion.
• * 1.2

  Excom.
• * 1.3

  Excom.
• * 1.4

  Excom.
• * 1.5

  Excom.
• * 1.6

  Excom.
• * 1.7

  Excom.
• * 1.8

  Excom.
• * 1.9

  Excom.
• * 1.10

  Excom.
• * 1.11

  Excom.
• * 1.12

  Excom.
• * 1.13

  Excom.
• * 1.14

  Excom.
• * 1.15

  Excom.
• * 1.16

  The Marginal Notes are added.
• (a) 1.17

  Some of your Brethren now scoff. at the Quakers for bearing Witness to the Immortal Seed within
• (b) 1.18

  For this Doctrine of Per∣fection, the Baptists, now re∣vile us, who are called Qua∣kers, and furiously oppose it.
• (c) 1.19

  Which Lightning and Re∣vivings do assert the Inward Light & immediate Teachings of God, now opposed by ma∣ny of the Baptists.
• (d) 1.20

  And this Strength and Light must inwardly be recei∣ved; but not by them that hate the Light.
• (e) 1.21

  Which are since greatly encreased among you.
• (f) 1.22

  Many of you are greatly guilty of that, witness your Railing Pamphlets & Sermons against us.
• (g) 1.23

  All these are fallen in up∣on you, because you have re∣fi•…•…ed the Light within, which would give the Knowledge of the Power and Life.
• (h) 1.24

  Herein you did own im∣mediate Teaching.
• (i) 1.25

  That Sense and Travel you have yet kept off, and de∣spise them that experience it.
• (k) 1.26

  And you are more unsound now then ever, neither can you be sound, until you own the Light.
• (l) 1.27

  And especially for your Envy and Hypocrisie.
• (m) 1.28

  But now you despise them that do.
• (n) 1.29

  Which kind of Pharisaical Babling is still very customary among you.
• (o) 1.30

  Excepting, that you are outwardly dipt, but as inward∣ly corrupt as others, and more envious then most Men are.
• (p) 1.31

  And will yet fall more:
• (q) 1.32

  Which shews the great hardnes of Heart that is among you.
• (q) 1.33

  Oh! great Dryness and Withering is come upon you.
• (r) 1.34

  So you have Cause still to mourn much more.
• (s) 1.35

  The slavish Fear of many of you hath greatly appeared in suffering Times; and se 〈◊〉〈◊〉-In•…•…erest and Gain hath much stopt you.
• (t) 1.36

  You cannot get them root∣ed out without the Power of God, which only is received by believing in his Light within.
• (v) 1.37

  Your House is not yet pur∣ged of them; however, this was an honest Care to endea∣vour such a purging, better then to excommunicate Persons for owning the Light within.
• (w) 1.38

  Which they are very prone to for Advantage.
• (x) 1.39

  Many more Evils you had n•…•…od now to spread before them.