The reviler rebuked: or, A re-inforcement of the charge against the Quakers, (so called) for their contradictions to the Scriptures of God, and to their own scriblings,: which Richard Farnworth attempted to answer in his pretended Vindication of the Scriptures; but is farther discovered, with his fellow-contradictors and revilers, and their doctrine, to be anti-Scriptural, anti-Christian, and anti-spiritual. By John Stalham, a servant of the great bishop and shepherd of souls, appointed to watch his little flock at Terling in Essex.

Section 15.

R F. here reviles me with [thou lies of Ed. Burrough] because I had noted the expression which he puts up∣on every mans light, (which is but common light at the best) viz. The corner-stone. And how doth he prove it? not by denying there is any such expression as the Corner-stone, but [there is not such a word as common light there.]

Rep. Nor did I use the word (common) as E. Burrough's, and therefore put it in a Parenthesis (as now) and ordered it to be printed as my own phrase, not his, in a differing let∣ter from his; and accordingly it was so printed. What lye is here in my mouth, that deserves the lake which he threat∣ens? Had I not studied brevity, I might have more fully given it thus,

How can he teach (saith E. B. * 1.1) and direct toward true Religion, who denies the Corner-stone, the first Principle of Religion, which is the foundation, the light of God, which hath enlightned every one that comes into the world; which he de∣nies (speaking of the Preacher at Ʋnderbarrow) to have enlightned every one. R. F. backs him thus, Christ is the Light, and Christ is the chief Corner-stone, Acts 4. 11. 1 Pet.

2. 6, 7. and so saith Ed. Burroughs; therefore, he agrees with the Scripture, and his saying (as thou says) is not con∣trary to Ephes. 2. 20. but agrees therewith: there thou art taken with a lye in thy mouth; Lyar be ashamed and blush.

Rep. 1. To hold forth Christ to be the chief Corner∣stone, and yet to insinuate and winde into peoples bo∣soms a new mystery, That the light which every one hath is a Corner-stone, is to teach diverse from, and contrary to the minde of the holy Ghost in that as other Scriptures, Ephes. 2. 20. for Christ is so the chief, as he is the onely* 1.2 Corner-stone. The word in the Greek is of full force to this purpose, signifying such a Corner-stone, as doth not onely unite the sides and parts of the building of the Church-Catholique, consisting of Elect Jews and Gentiles, and that strengthens the whole building; but that which reacheth from the bottom to the top of it, and is all but one stone in the whole foundation, and in all the corner from one end to the other: As no other Foundation, so no other Corner∣stone can be laid, then that which is laid, the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Christ, as he enlightneth every one that cometh into the world, is not the Corner-stone; Christ, as God, consider him onely so, and with the common gifts which he bestows upon every man, is not laid as the Foundation of the Church; but Christ, as Mediator, God-man, the Word made flesh.

3. As the light which every man hath given him is none of the six Principles, Heb. 6. 1, 2. (much less the first prin∣ciple of Religion) so neither is it the Corner-stone, though given by Christ, yet not to that end. It is not light wrought in us, but Christ the light-giver, and in his person, not his gifts, who is both Foundation, and himself * 1.3 the chief and onely Corner-stone, so Ephes. 2. 20. Will R. F. say to me, as he hath to others, * 1.4 You are ignorant of the first principle of Religion, that make a scorn of this light? I shall return him this for his information, That as I own every mans light in its due place, and am far from scorning it, or him for it; so I cannot by warrant from Scripture, admit it into the place of Christs person, or of Christ-Mediator; nor farther

acknowledge it a principle of Religion, but such as is com∣mon to Pagans and Heathens, that teacheth them a God, and that he is to be worshipped. But if it be a stone, it is of the old foundation, of life by works, and not any prin∣ciple of Christian Religion, [as such] nor any stone of the New-building, by, and according to a covenant of Grace in Jesus Christ.

Here I may take occasion to answer a Quere made by a company of this Sect, in one of their Pamphlets * 1.5, How is the Gospel of Christ preached to every Creature under hea∣ven, if it be not the principle of light in the conscience, it be∣ing that many never come to read or hear of the Scriptures?

One would think, if their light were not darkness, or that their mindes were not darkned with the light of the Scriptures, those two Texts which are referred to in their Margent, might have resolved them sufficiently, Rom. 10. 18.* 1.6 and Col. 1. 23. In the former of these, alluding to that in Psalm 19. 3, 4. the Apostle invincibly clears it, that the Jews could not but hear (who had the Scriptures with them, wheresoever they were dispersed, and besides) as the Sun casts its beams all over the world; so had the Gospel by the Apostles ministery shined forth into all known habitable parts of the earth. In the latter of them, Paul speaks of* 1.7 such a preaching and hearing of the Gospel, whereof him∣self was a minister, and that was sent forth, according to Christs commission, Mark 16. 15. by the ministery of man, to every creature, i. e. to Gentiles, as to Jews; and to all nations, as to some, Matth. 28. 19. Nor did the Apostles and Evangelists at any time so preach, without book, in any place, to any reasonable creature, but as they carried the Scriptures with them; so they made all the world ring of one Christ crucified, according to the Scriptures, 1 Cor. 15. 3. This, saith Paul to the Corinthians, I delivered unto you first of all. The principle of light in the Conscience, will never discover this first principle, or fundamental truth, Christ dying for sinners, where the Scriptures and Preach∣ers of the Scriptures come not, as it never preacht it in the Ages past. Those Preachers will be ashamed of their work, who do not rightly divide the word of truth; much more

they who say, they are Apostles and are not, but are found lyars, as all they are who reject the Scriptures, the word of truth, from being the Rule, Card, and Compass of their work; and who drive people, that have the Scriptures, to the light in their consciences, as a surer and better light; and that which will change the minde, as I had noted Sect. 13. whereas there is not the light of a Mediator, or Christ cru∣cified in it; nor the power of God in it, but to restrain, moralize, and civilize; it never reached to renovation, nor ever will renew the minde, (according to a Gospel sense) though men abide in it till dooms-day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Warning to the inhabi∣tants of Un∣derbarrow, p. 7
• * 1.2

  Ephes. 2. 20. vindicated. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  Light out of darkness, pag. 21.
• * 1.5

  Entituled, To all that would know the way to the kingdom, p. 16
• * 1.6

  Rom 10 18. opened.
• * 1.7

  Col. 1 23. opened.