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 21.

HEre I took up two passages, the one of James Parnel in his tryal of Faith* 1.1 While sin is, there no purity can dwell: The other of James Nayler* 1.2 God and sin cannot dwell together in one. Both contrary, as I no••ed, to 1 Cor. 3. 16. The Saints at Corinth had sin, and the holy Ghost dwelling in them at the same time; so had Paul, Rom. 7. 17. compared with 1 Cor. 7. 25. lets this Section pass without answer, and I shall dismiss it with, but, a little more animadversion, whether their Doctrine or mine will stand,* 1.3 let him that readeth understand: I am sure of Contradicti∣ons, one part must be false, both cannot be true. And if it hath been already cleared as a truth of Scripture, and experience, That Saints and Regenerate upon earth, in whom God dwelleth, have sin in-dwelling, that must be false.

First, which J. P. teacheth, While (or where) sin is, there no purity can dwell; by which dictate, he would destroy the faith of all those who believe no perfect freedom from the body of sin, in this life.

Secondly, which J. N. teacheth; That God and sin cannot dwell together in one. I suppose he meaneth, in one soul, by what he hath before; Did ever Jesus Christ redeem such a people, or dwell in such a people? If he would say, God and sin cannot dwell together as one, or at agreement, but as enemies, warring and fighting one against another, in the same field or house, that is a truth evident enough: For as Jacob and Esau were in one womb struggling, so are grace and corruption in one heart: As Hannah and Peninnah were contending in one family, so are holiness and sin in one soul: Even as two contrary qualities, light and darkness, are in the same air at the same time; and heat and cold in

the same water, though one in a remiss, the other in a higher degree. God dwells as a Lord, sin as a slave; purity as a prince, sin as a tyrant, in the same Saint and Christian. If any that is called a Saint thinks otherwise, he is either not as he is called; knows not himself, as every Saint doth in part, and in this case: or, if he be one really sanctified, he is under a strong delusion, and in a most drowsie dream for the present, the Lord will awaken him in his good time.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Page 4.
• * 1.2

  Few words, &c. page. 25.
• * 1.3

  Sin and purity dwell in one soul, not as one