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.

(6.)

Some passages savour of meer ignorance, or of wilful

blindness, about the Covenant of Grace, the state of Grace, and the Mysteries of Salvation.

As that of James Nayler, a 1.1 Where sin is acted, it must needs have dominion. Doth not the Scripture expresly exempt them that are under Grace, or a Covenant of Grace, from Sins dominion? Rom. 6. 14. And yet, doth not Paul describe the present state of the Saints to be in the warfare and com∣bat, and sin present when they would do good, even to pull them back from it, and to put them on to outward acting of what is evil, in a warring captivating way? Rom. 7. 14. to the end of the chapter. And is not this the inward act of sins hostility? even where Grace reigns in the habit, and by a contrary act of the renewed will (while flesh is haling an∣other way) doth oppose the rebellion and tyranny of sin. If some could shake off the actings of in-dwelling sin, in pra∣ctice, as they attempt it in their doctrine, they had been rai∣sed to a higher form of perfection then yet they have at∣tained: But the ignorance of a contrariety of willing, and of acting in the same subject, and faculty, shews rather their un-experiencedness in the Fencers school; and that they cry out of victory (not believed, hoped for, that we grant, but compleated) before they have engaged in the main battel. Fresh-water soldiers think the war is at an end, when they are past the first skirmish of a forlorn hope.

That of E. B. b 1.2 By what is the new birth wrought, if not by following the Light of Christ in the conscience? To inform the ignorant we teach out of Scripture, that the new-birth is not wrought by our following work, but by Gods pre∣venting Grace, casting the promise into the heart, and quick∣ning that seed, by the in-coming of the Spirit, James 1. 18. with John 3. 5. Regeneration is not acquired by our acts, but infused of God by his will and power, John 1. 13.

That, Again c 1.3 Shew if ever any natural man did get power over sin, and abstain from things forbidden throughout the Scripture: When before, he had asked By what is the new∣birth wrought, if not by following, &c. If a natural man may get the new-birth by following the Light of Christ in his conscience, then he may by such an act of obedience, get some kinde of power over sin, and far sooner abstain from

many things forbidden, then ever get the new-birth thereby. There is a two-fold power over sin; the one by the restrain∣ing power of God, called Restraining Grace; the other by the special influence of Christ and his Spirit, uniting himself to the soul, and taking up his habitation in a Believer, as in his Temple. The natural man hath the former, more or less, and yet remaineth a natural man, and in his natural state, be∣cause he wants the latter. Was not Herod a natural man,* 1.4 and so remained, even while he heard John gladly, and did many things? Did not Paul, while in his natural state (fol∣lowing the light in his conscience) abstain from things for∣bidden?* 1.5 was he not, touching the righteousness of the Law, blameless? Were not those Peter speaks of, escaped from* 1.6 the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of Christ? yea, clean, or really escaped, as by a common or in∣ferior* 1.7 work of the Spirit, and yet were in their natural state, first and last.

What wilful ignorance is in that Querie? d 1.8 Where is such a Scripture, that the most eminent believer sins in any things? This is subscribed by three or four of them; as if they had never read, or having read, not regarded, James 3. 2. or will not understand Rom. 7. 21. that not onely in all the good they do, or would do, evil (by a tyrannizing law of the old man) is present with them, but in many things they all offend, or sin.

And what affected blindness in that demand? e 1.9 Where doth the Scripture call it self the Word of God, and to whom was it the Rule of Life? Who please may read over the 119 Psalm, once more, and view the 40 page; and then consult Gal. 6. 14. and view the explanation, page 44. of this Re∣ply, and the Scriptures will stand right in his thoughts (by Gods blessing) and he be affected to them.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Publike dis∣coveries of open blind∣ness by James Nayler, page 2
• b 1.2

  True faith, &c. page 19.
• c 1.3

  Ib. page 21.
• * 1.4

  Mark 6. 20.
• * 1.5

  Phil. 3. 6.
• * 1.6

  2 Pet. 2. 18, 20
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• d 1.8

  Ishmael and his mother cast out, p. 1••.
• e 1.9

  The skirts of the whore discovered by Dennis Holli∣ster, page 19.