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 8.

IN the second Section of this second part, I noted down two of their Self-contradictions: the latter of them might have there been spared, and entirely spoken to here, where I toucht at it again, a little more plainly: But R. F. though he glanced at it there, took it not off; nor doth he any more here then pass it over in silence, which of the Saints had the witness of their souls union to seek in the Letter? thus querieth J N. in his Few words, page 11. I shall now to what was discovered as contradictory to himself, in Sect. 2. or here adde his other words in the same page, viz. The Spirit, it opens and brings all that is spoken in Scripture to remembrance: this is so a truth, as it crosseth his Negative implyed in the Interrogation, viz. That none have their witness to seek in the Letter, and what he addes expresly, He that believeth hath the witness in himself in Spirit, and not in the Letter: had he said and not in the Letter onely, it might have salv'd the contradiction; but as it is contrary to the Scripture to say, the Saints have not comfortable testi∣mony of their union, and interest in Christ, in and by the Scripture-letter; so 'tis contrary to himself to deny the Be∣liever hath his witness in the Letter, and yet grant that the Spirit opens and brings all that is in the Letter to remem∣brance: for to what end doth he bring it to remembrance?

not onely for explication of Scripture by Scripture, but for consolation of our spirits, by the good words of the Spirit of God. When heaviness makes the heart to stoop, a good word, seasonably remembred as spoken▪ makes it glad, and he that slights the turning over of the sacred Pages of the Bible, after he hath got his evidence within, may be glad of crums one day, after his high Feastings; and well, if seek∣ing the Spirit where he lost him, his comforts return at last upon him. Many lose the Spirits comforts, by slighting his Love-letters in the Scriptures, where the Spirit is, and whereby he giveth forth himself: Such a passage I had in my former piece, That the Spirit is in the Letter, and given by it, which R. F. hath excepted against once and again here∣tofore, but now in its due place, where it was spoken, he lets it pass. I promised in the first part of this Reply, to clear it further for his conviction, if it may be, or for the Saints edification. First, The Spirit is in the Letter, or the whole Scripture; for so these men comprehensively use the term [Letter.]* 1.1

1. As he owneth what he dictated to his Secretaries, the Pen-men of Scripture. He is in all their writings with the subscription of his own hand, as it were: they spake and wrote as they were moved, and inspired by the Holy Ghost. Rev. 1. 10. John is in the Spirit, viz. he is rapt up by the Spirit, and the Spirits impulse is more then ordinarily upon him, when he is commanded to write; and of all that John writeth, the Spirit beareth Testimony, that it is himself that speaks it. Rev. 3. 22. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches: what wretched men are they who will not suffer the Spirit to be where he speaketh?

2. If the Spirit was in the Pen-men, he is more in the mat∣ter and contents of the Scripture penned down: None will deny but he was in the Pen-men, more then ordinarily, when they wrote from his mouth or inspiration; and therefore he is in what they wrote, much more: for the word written is of greater Authority, and Spirit then the Writer or Secre∣tary. They were holy men of God who wrote, but that which is written, is the holy Truth of God: They were

imperfectly holy, but Gods word, as written from the Spi∣rit, is perfect in all degrees of holiness.

3. The Spirit is where there is, with perfect holiness, per∣fect Truth and Majesty in the Matter, and in the very Stile; and where is sweet Harmony in all the parts put together: In the Scripture-letter there is not one Iota or Tittle that shall fall to the ground, to eclipse the Glory, Truth and Majesty, or spoil the Harmony of it.

Secondly, the Spirit is given by it, in this sense.* 1.2

1. As his minde is given out by it, whether the words be proper or figurative, the Spirit hath his proper intend∣ment, scope and sense in the whole Letter, and in every part of what is written; and as by his words he makes known his minde, he is where his words are.

2. As his work is given by it; even what work he plea∣seth,* 1.3 of Conviction, Instruction in Righteousness, Consola∣tion, &c. If the Scripture convinceth gainsayers, and sinners, evil livers; if it instructeth the ignorant, comforteth the feeble-minded, it is as the Spirit gives out himself thereby. He is there indeed as a free Agent, ad placitum, not tyed to work, or manifest himself, or put forth his power and grace; but as the wind bloweth where it listeth, so he worketh, where, when, and upon whom he pleaseth.

3. As the Promises of the Scripture are his Chariot to convey him whither he pleaseth to go; into the hearts of the Elect, that they may believe; and after they have be∣lieved, that they may be established. Thus, according to his promise, he will fill a Believers sails of endeavor, in read∣ing, meditating, &c. with gales of grace, and advances to∣wards glory. To conclude, that the Spirit is in the Letter, and given by it, daily experience doth demonstrate: For such as forsake the Scriptures authority, and own not the Spirits dwelling in the Letter, as truly as in the heart, they lose their faith of the Spirits presence with them, in the reading and meditation of it, and losing this faith, they run to other Doctrines and Gospels. The spirit of error is in all mens doctrines which have not the Spirit in them, that brea∣theth in the Scriptures. We may easily discern whether R. F. his spirit be not in his writings, and whether much of

the spirit of Error, not conveyed and given out by his and other mens Pamphlets of the same stamp. And shall the spirit of Satan, the father of lyes, be in Seducers books; and not the Spirit of God, and of the Father of truth, be in, and go along (according to his free mercy) with his own blessed Books of the Scripture? Yes verily, and James Naylers words import as much, when he saith * 1.4, That the Spirit opens, and brings all that is spoken in Scripture to remem∣brance; which if R. F. denies, he contradicts his fellow; if he grants it a truth, he must recant his frequent descants up∣on that which I asserted, and judge himself as erring, be∣cause he knew not the Scriptures, and the Spirit and power of God dwelling in them, and acting by them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How the Spi∣rit is in the Scripture-Letter.
• * 1.2

  How given by it.
• * 1.3

  See second part, Section 10.
• * 1.4

  Few words by J. N. p. 11.