GEorge Whitehead hath made another scrible, in pretended answer to my book intituled, The Quakers proved Decei­vers, &c. In which he doth but more manifest his folly and falshood, as the more he scribles, the more it will yet appear, to such as are not blinded with ignorance or errour. I shall, God assisting, shew the reader briefly what pittifull stuff he hath, in some brief observations.

That in his title he calls my charge unjust, and my book a pamphlet, and the people I preach to, Mooreans, or Vniversalists, are but some over­flowings of the Gall of bitternesse that he is possest with, as also his cal­ling my relation, a pretended and imperfect relation, and saying, that I falsly boast that I made good the charge, and of a pretended victory where I had none, which I leave to the judgement of the Lord, and of the auditory that heard our discourse, though for the perfection and truth of my relation, George's inability to correct or contradict it in a­ny thing of moment, in what he hath wrote against it, may passe with sober men that hard us not, for a pretty good proof, or demonstration. And as for his charging me with false doctrine, lyings, slanders, and per­verting of the truth, I may give him leave in such termes to vent his passion and never envie him for it, seeing God hath put him to rebuke before me, and the truth, notwithstanding his serpent-like winding a­bout to hide his deceits before his deluded followers tryumps over and against his errors.

His preamble begins with truths wrongly applyed by him to his de­ceits: the Serpent and his subtilty which appeares against the seed of God, and against the power and wisdom of God] is manifest in him and his party, and the torment and vexation which the striving against the truth brings, and the confusion and darknesse that overwhelmes them that so do] is evident enough to them that can see in this envious and imbittered people, who hiss, like Serpents out of their holes, when the truth disturbs them, and laies them open. How empty & foolish a vapour it is that he saies, the Lord was with him, and by his strength they were made able to tread upon their enemies. All that were at the dispute (and remember how pitifully he was con­founded, so that he would needs, for want of any reasonable answer, have left the argument, and fallen to read on our book, to begin some charge against us, instead of defending himself against my charge) may [Page 4]easily discern. I blesse the Lord, I was in my spirit clearly above his deceits, and my mouth was enlarged over him, and the people general­ly received satisfaction against him. His charging me with rage and madnesse against the truth, because I was courageous for it, against his deceits, and was so far from raging, that I rejoiced against him, no­thing moves me. I looke for an hundred worse things from Satan than such an aspertion.

But whereas he saith, he several times sent to me, to come forth in publick before he could get me; take the truth of the thing, that thou maist (Reader) see his deecit herein. When George Fox chal­lenged me to make good my charge, he bad me appoint time and place; I appointed mine own house, or Mr. Iohnsons, against which he excepted not, but only that time he said he could not. Therefore when George Whitehead sent to me to meet him, to do it either in the Market place or Steeple-house, or Steeple-house-yard, or streets, I re­turned him answer, what George Fox and I had agreed on, as to that matter; and yet, that if they would procure the steeple-house, I would meet him there: this he refused, and then would have me meet him at Isbel Barnards, which I told his friend, I should not refuse, if my friends judged it convenient, or because he had upbraided me with my God, I was not unwilling to meete him in the market place, would my friends thither accompany me, and the Magistrates approve it; upon advice with my friends they were not willing I should go to Isbel Barnards or the Mraket-place. Then I sent him word, that if he and his friends would joine with me and mine, in repairing the harmes might by occa­sion of the meeting in the steeple-house, be done to the seats, I would joine with them in procuring it. But this also, though one of his own party judged it but reasonable, he refused, because he would not put his party upon any charge: then he desired me to nominate some indifferent private house, seeing he judged mine not indifferent, and we judged Isbel Bernards as little or lesse indifferent; and I did pro­cure Mr. Philips his, where we should have met, had his party, upon viewing of it, liked it; but the Church-warden in the mean while (without whose concent I would not make bold with the Church or steeple-house, or put either my friends or the parish upon the charge of repaires, they having been put to charge before at our former meeting by their occasion) sending me word that we might in the Chancel: so soon as we had that liberty granted, I sent G. W. word of it, and accordingly there we met. Now judge Reader whether of us were most guilty of backwardnesse to meete in the publick, so as was convenient, seeing I offered him so reasonable, even in the judgement of some of his own party, and he refused it; but this is no new thing, to hide them­selves, and intimately accuse others in deceit. He saies, The chief thing I drove at, was to make people believe, that there is no man living upon earth that sinneth not, or can be perfectly freed from sin in this life, and that the Prophets and Apostles had sin in them so long as they lived] which though [Page 5]it's not altogether true; because the main thing, I drove at was not that, but to prove the Quakers deceivers. Yet those things, he saies, I drove at, and would have people believe me in, are in part, that very words of the Prophets and holy men of God; and so if I drove at that to make people believe those things, I drove but at the making them believe the truth of the Scriptures, in those sayings and by conse­quence George indeavoured to drive them from believing them. For, that there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not, and no man that sins not, is not mine but Solomons by the spirit of truth, I trow, Eccles. 7.20. 1 Kings 8.46. and that no man is perfect­ly freed from sin in all respects in this life, is evident both in Psal. 143.2. and in that sicknesses, diseases, and mortality that came in by sin, abides upon all men till death, yea, and the bodily death that came in by sin, abides upon all till the resurrection: and so long as any fruit of sin abides upon a man, he is not perfectly in all respects freed from sin. And to say as he doth [that the asserting these things is the making way for my Fathers Kingdome which is upheld by sin, as much as I could] is evi­dent blasphemy. For God being my Father (at least by creation as he after, though erroniously saies, the Disciples were taught so to call him their Father) his kingdome is not upheld by sin; and if he calls him the Devil, he blasphemes; or if he judge the Devil to be my Father, as no doubt his charity leads him, yet then he blasphemes the spirit of truth which breathed in the holy men of God, while he makes the as­serting their sayings a warring for the Devils kingdome, that they be their sayings, the places above quoted with, Rom. 7.17, 20, 21, 22, 23. Jam. 3.2. 1 John 1.8, 10. and 2.1, 2. make it evident. See Reader how this man discovers his shame and falsehood in al his oppositions, his intimations that we denyed him liberty to speak in evidence of his (pretended) truths, is so false, that the contrary, namely that when he would have been reading, and at other times he was called upon again and again to answer, he would not for some time; yea, and sometime he had liberty, or took it, to talke so much, that I could not have liberty to reply upon him, and the calling out of the company to him to answer or else own himself proved a deceiver, and perhaps sometimes laughing at his folly, is that he calls the incivility towards him, and clamoring of many at once against him. And where he saies that, many hearing him with sobernesse, was (as appeares) a grief to me, and probably some cause of my publishing of an imperfect relation of the discourse in print to render him, and what he calls the truth, odious, and in my pride to make people believe I had got the victory. I avouch in the presence of God, that the people hearing him with sobernesse was no grief at all to me, or any thing that I see as making against me in the people, and if it appears so to him, it's because his eye sees by a false light, and the spirit of truth guids him not therein. I was very much rejoiced in the Lord to see his helpfulnesse afforded me, and Geo. Whit. so made manifest to the people, and the people so satisfied: for which [Page 6]cause also I published as perfect a relation of the discourse of these points spoken to, as possible I could, and could I possibly have come by every word, or fillable of it, I was not afraid nor ashamed to make it publick, knowing right well the more perfectly it had been published, the more perfectly his folly had been made manifest: So that if what I have published in print render him odious, it is because his folly and deceit in the dispute was such as deserved it. As for what he saies, he shall make good against me in the strength of God, it will appear to be but a deceived vapour in him by what I shall (through Gods assistance) say here to his two latter charges, which (he saies) his Treatise makes good, namely; That my Ministry, in which he (falsly) saies, I contend for sin (just as the Apostle John did in 1 Joh. 1.8, 10. with 2.1.) is Anti-Christian and both against the commands, promise and works of God, and leads to the making both the preaching and praying of Christ and the Saints inef­fectual, and that. 2. I (like a chollerick envious man against the truth of God and his people) am a forger of lies, a false accuser and slanderer, and so one of the Dragons army, &c. By this making good, or not making, thou maist judge Reader, whether the strength of God be with him to make good his former against me by dispute, which he could challenge me to in publick, either in market place, Steeple-house or their meeting house in Lin, namely. 1. That I am out of the steps of the true Ministers, and am in the practice of deceivers, an hypocrite, and no Minister of Christ, and being a parish Priest am guilty of the Priests iniquity in many things against which I have declared. And 2. That I uphold a dead formal worship like the world, whereunto people are not called by the spirit of truth; which is not the true worship, and keep people from the life of God, and my Ministry for­mal and corrupt. Which his foolish challenge I shall not accept, both because his folly and falshood in his boasts of strength, to that may be sufficiently discovered in his failers, of what he boasts he hath done in his Treatise, as also because he therein laies a trap for me, to get oc­cation to reproach me; for he knowes I sent him word, that I should henceforth have no more to do with him, but according to the Apostles counsel reject them; now should I accept his challenge, he and his par­ty would reproach me, as they did upon a lesse coloured occasion as a lyer and false. Besides these being personal charges, and the overflow­ings of their anger against me, because foiled at the dispute, and such things as these spoken so much as we thought needful in answer to his former book in which he spits such venemous stuff against me, I shall not go about to plead my own cause, but leave it to God; and rather take good Hezekiahs course when Sennacherib railed upon him, that would not have him answered again.

That he is far from making good his charges in the two other points of it spoken to, as he saies in his treatise, these things that follow in answer hereunto, I hope will fully evince.

To my proofes for the Scriptures (which he only sets down the quo­tations without saying any thing to them particularly,) that the [Page 7]Prophets, Apostles, and holy men of God (even after they were Pro­phets, Apostles, and holy men) came confessing themselves sinners, and to have sin. He saies, I have not made it appear that the Quakers do not so, for they own their confessing sin, and they have confessed their sins to the Lord as they did. To this I answer, that's evident enough that the Quakers do not boast by their not denying our charge against them in our first book, but pleading for their conceited sinlessenesse, and by what they say here; for, observe I pray, 1. They do but say, they own the Apostles and Prophets, confessing their sins, seeing they say a man born of God hath no sin to confesse, either then they deny the Apostles and Prophets, when such, to have been born of God, or how do they own their confessing sin? Nay, George saies, Paul (and he may as well say it of all the rest) spake not of his own state, but other mens.

2. What if they own their confessing sins, that proves not that the Quakers do confesse them. The Scribes and Pharisees owned the Pro­phets doings, yet they did not as the Prophets. Thirdly, He sayes they have confest them, that implies they do not so now. But the Apostles and Prophets do not say only they had in times past confest and forsaken them, but even when Apostles and Prophets confess them, in the present; see else David again and again as Psal. 6. and 19. and 25. and 38. and 40. so Paul Rom. 7.17, 20. We find no time of the Apostles and Prophets, while here, in which they said, they had no sin in them. But it seems the Quakers would be thought to be better than the Prophets and Apostles: As for their denying themselves and sin, I would they did as truly as pretend it, but their lying, falsifying, and passionate language, discovers the conntrary in them, for all their saying as this peice of Georges sufficiently proves, his reproaching the Ministers by the name of Priests, as he doth me often with much bitternesse, as Priest Horne, this Priest, this scornefull Priest, Horne, &c. As they ar­gue him not to have put off all malice, bitternesse, &c. So are they not to be mattered by us; nor his reproaching any of us, as not forsaking our sins, but pleading for them; its likely Davids enemies did so in Psal. 38.15, 16, 17. to which George hath given no answer, though al­leged to prove the Quakers such towards us, as Davids enemies were to him. Doubtlesse these Quakers would have accused the Apostles of not forsaking sin too but pleading for it, had they lived in their time, and heard them say sin dwelt in them, and that in many things they all offend, especially they would have taxed David with it that is so of­ten confessing his sin, as in part I have noted. But see how silly his pre­tended proof is, that sin doth not abide in all men the term of this life, and that they are out of the spirit and life of the Prophets and holy men of God, it is this, They know the fear of the Lord, which is to depart from iniquity, which fear keeps the heart clean, and such as live in it shall not depart from the Lord, Jer. 32.40.] as if where men know, or have the fear of the Lord, there is no sin in them, and as if to have sin in a man, and to depart from the Lord, was all one. See the folly and falsehood [Page 8]of this passage. Did not David know the fear of the Lord which is clean, when he said, Psalm 19.9. the feare of the Lord is clean enduring for ever? or did he speak at randome? and yet did not pray presently after, cleanse thou me from my secret sins? or had not Paul the fear of the Lord, or did he depart from the Lord when he delighted in the Law of the Lord in his inner man, and yet found another law in his members, warring against the law of his mind? Rom. 7.21, 22, 23. Doth not these passages evidence, that George Whitehead is so far from being in the strength of God, as he boasts, that he is a man of no judgement (that is, right understanding) that cannot distinguish be­tween sins being in men, and the heart departing from the Lord by sin offending in a mans walking and leaving the way. How silly also it is that he accounts it absurd for me to say, That people ought to account the Quakers accursed, whom we have said to be an heavy judgement of God to us in this Nation, for then they must count the judgement of God accursed. And again pa. 11. That in striving against, and reviling the Quakers, we strive against and revile Gods judgement, when as we should patiently bear Gods judgements? for doth not judgement begin at the house of God? 1 Pe. 4.17. and doth he not ordain wicked men for judgement, such as the Caldeans? Heb. 1.12. and false teachers? Jude 4. yea, and Sa­tan too, as to Job? and may we not accompt Satan his instruments ac­cursed, and yet not count Gods judgement so? or because the judge­ment of God is just and holy, are the wicked men ordained as a judge­ment holy and just too? If God should judge a Nation by sending wild beasts among them, must they patiently let the wild beast devour their folkes, because they be a judgement sent of God? or else do they resist the judgement of God? I trow not; its a judgement that we must be put to strive against such beasts, and yet that judgement we may pati­ently bear in all our strifts against them. Sure if G. W. cannot distin­guish between the judgement of God as a judgement from him, and as to the conditions of the thing which he uses as judgements, he is but a blind guide and they that follow him will fall into the ditch with him. Whereas I say, the true Apostles and Prophets never use to speak of themselves as finlesse. G. W. saies its false, for the true Prophet saies, all his judgements were before me, and as for his statutes I did not depart from them, I was also upright before him, and have kept my selfe from my iniquity, 2 Sam. 22.24. But mark here Reader, that David acknow­ledges he had then iniquity, for how was iniquity his, if there was none in him, his keeping himself from it, is the same with that in the Apostle, of not walking after the flesh, which also implies flesh to be in them, and intice them that walk not after it. And David speaks there of his innocency in respect of his carriages toward Saul and his other ene­mies in the things they accused him in, and pretended as just causes of their persecuting him, the Psalm being pend upon that occasion as the title shews, besides which he committed many sins, though yet then notwithstanding it is said of him, that he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not a side from any thing that he [Page 9]commanded him all the daies of his life, save only in the matter of Vriah the Hittite, 1 Kings 15.5. But in those things between him and his enemies, God rewarded him (not after his iniquitie which he kept himself from, as in another place, Psal. 107.10. he hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us after our iniquities; in which he acknowledges, even he among others, that they had sins and iniquities, but they being kept from serving and living in them, God dealt not with them after them, but after the righteousnes and clean­nesse found, according to the spirit or inward man; even as Paul when he had said, he served with his mind the Law of God, but with his flesh the law of sin; yet adds, there is therefore no condemnation to them that walke not after the flesh, but after the spirit; God therein deals with them according to their cleannesse in Christ, and in their walk­ing after the spirit, and not after their sin in their members: so that quotation also clearly failes him. It is true too that God promises that his people shall be all righteous, and clean from all their filthinesse; yea, and they are righteous in Christ, and his blood actually and continu­ally cleanseth them; but that proves not that the Saints and Prophets ever boasted themselves to be without sin: But even they that said, the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin, say too imediately after, if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves; nay, seeing Gods afflicting his people, is to purge away their sin, as Isa. 27.8, 9. and the temp­tations he tries them with, are to try and purifie their faith from the mixtures therein, (both of them being as baptizings with water and fire to those ends) it appeares, that so long as they are subject to afflicti­ons and tryals, (which is so long as they live, death it self being one way of afflicting and trying) they have drosse and uncleannesse to be purged from, and God is performing his promises to them therein, that they may be all perfectly righteous even in themselves, in the new heaven and earth and new Jerusalem, where shall be no unclean thing, and where shall be the full accomplishment of Gods righteousnesse up­on them, to which also Isa. 60. alludes. As for those that John saw Rev. 14. that were without fault before the Throne of God, and that could sing to the Lord a new song, I say all that heartily believe in Christ, and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, it is Christs office to present them holy unblameable and without reproof in Gods sight, Col. 1.22.23. not because they are sinless in themselves, but because they are in him who is their perfect righteousnesse; nor is that the new song they sing, that in us is no fault or blame; but while they accuse themselves and confesse their sins, he is just and faithful and for­gives them, and so presents them in himself without blame before God, and their song is praises or salvation to the Lord, as in Psal. 40.23. David sung that new song, and yet complained of innumerable sins, and evils compassing him about in himself: See else Psal. 40.11, 12, 13. So that still here appears in George nothing but ignorant mistakes, or the spirit of deceit. He adds, that that song cannot be sung by those that [Page 10]are in their iniquities, and pleading for sins, being enemies to the state of the new creature. But he herein grosly prevaricates and deceives his Reader, confounding mens having sin in them, and confessing their sins with men being in sin, and pleading for it; between which is a vast dif­ference: Paul was not in his sin, but in Christ, nor did he plead for sin, but strive against it and deny it, when he said, sin was in him, and be­wailed that he did what he would not. We say not then, that the true Apostles and Prophets were in sin, and pleaded for it, but had sin in them, and bewailed their sins; nor do we in so saying, plead for sin, no more than they did. Therefore George herein bewrayes his great ig­norance and mistake, and his conclusion is meer vanity and deceit, viz. That they have a cloud of witnesses, and many evidences for their testimonie that it is of God, and that what they hold is truth, and that all that own God must own them herein. Which is all false, as by what is said may be seen.

I sayd, that when John said, 1 Ioh. 4.17. As he is so are we in this world, he could not mean it, we are without sin, because that's contra­ry to his own expressions, 1 Ioh. 1.8. This G. W. railes on me for, and adds, That John who knew the state in which they had sin, and in which if they said they had no sin, they deceived themselves, &c. did not say they should have sin so long as in the world, for he saith, little children let no man deceive you, he that doth righteousnesse is righteous, as he is righteous, 1 John 3.6, 7. Plainly implying that they are deceivers that say, men cannot be with­out sin while they are in the World, &c. Mind Reader the wildness of his answers, & how he leaves my saying undisproved, do what he can; for what if Iohn did not say in expresse words, that they should have sin so long as they were in this world; Seeing that Scripture speaks of what they were at present (as he is, so we are in this world?) it's enough to proove, that what Iohn said there, of their present state, may not be interpreted as the Quakers do, that they were then without sin, seeing it crosses what he said before of their present estate, in that respect. And what though he that doth righteousnes is righteous, even as he is righteous; that proves not that he that doth righteousnesse hath no sin in him, for he that confesses his sins, doth righteousnesse therein, otherwise how is it righteousnesse and faithfulnesse in God to forgive him, 1 Iohn 1.9. So then he that, in such a sense as in that, 1 Iohn 1.9. confesseth his sins, is righteous as Christ is righteous, for Christ is his righteousnesse; and yet he that confesseth his sin, is not without sin in himselfe, for then he should confesse a falsehood: And what though (as he adds) that in 1 Iohn 4.17. have relation to their dwelling in God and God in them (that's but George's affirmation) do not they that walke in the light, as he is in the light, dwell in God, and God in them? and yet have sins that the blood of Christ cleanseth them from: and if they sayd, they have no sin, they deceive themselves, 1 Iohn 1.7, 8. I say, the true Apostles & Prophets used not to glory in their perfection, and finlesnesse. He answers. Then they used not to glory in Christ, and who is [Page 11]it that will believe this deceit, for Christ was their righteousnesse and persecti­on, See Reader, what a deceitful man is this, that leaves out the word sinlesnesse, which I added on purpose, to shew what perfection I meant of, and then to ask if the Apostles gloried not in a perfection, which he was sure I meant not of, for though Christ be by the gift of God their perfection, yet he is not their personal sinlesnesse or selfe perfection, that I spake of; these men are good at little, but at crafty catching at, and perverting expressions.

Again, to our saying they reproached us, for owning our selves part of the Nation, guilty of sin with them. He taxeth us, For finding fault with the Teachers and people, and yet now we are joyned with them, and guilty of sin with them, and that I joine my self with the blind watchmen, and dumb dogs, and then taxe us with hypocrisie and deceit, for one while de­claring against the Teachers, and people of the Nation, and another while to joine with them.] But marke Reader, that I said not we joined our selves with them in their sinning, but in confessing sins; that is, we consesse ours with theirs, nor say we, that we are guilty of all their sins, but guilty of sin. And will not his charges of us, for this, fall upon the Prophet Isaiah, did not he one while inviegh against the watch­men and the people, yea many times, and yet another while joine in himself among them, in confessing the Nations sins, in Isa. 59.10, 11, 12, 13. when he said, we grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes, and our transgressions are multiplyed be­fore thee, and our sins testifie against us. Did Isaiah speak those things of himself and the Disciples, as a distinct party from the body of the Nation, or as joining in the Nation with themselves? If as a distinct party, would not George say then, they were hypocrites for faulting o­thers, and being as bad themselves? If as joining themselves in with the Nation, were they not guilty of the same that George throwes upon us, if we be therefore guilty, as he saies? Surely all that read these things, may see herein G. W.'s weaknesse. My charges of them denying Christ to have that body glorified in heaven, in which he suf­fered, is not disproved by my saying, they granted the same body that suffered was glorified at Gods right hand, because (as elsewhere we have cleared it) they meant equivocally in that saying, and not of the personal body of Christ: but to that and their denyal of the re­surrection of mens bodys, we have spoken fullyer, in our answer to their book against us. Nor will my saying, they are persons of no judgement in these things, save them from being guilty of indeavou­ring to subvert the faith about them, seeing judgement, in Scripture expression, signifies right understanding, as in Isa. 42.14. and 59.8. and they that have no understanding to do good, may be wise to do evil, as the Prophet saies. Jer. 4.22.

To that of our Saviour, Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is per­fect, alledged by G. W. to proove, that some men are without sin here. I noted, That men may in Scripture sense be said to be perfect, that [Page 12]have sin in them. Instancing in Job. and Asa. And 2. That exhortations to things, prove not those things to be perfectly attained by any here, nor doth the Scripture ever say, Let not sin be in you, &c. The first of these George passes over, which, would he have defended himselfe to purpose he should not have done. To the 2. he saies, To what end or ef­fect then was his exhortation? What, must men be under the commands after death which they had in their life time, and not till then fulfill them? here's darkeness indeed (saith he) made manifest, and the command put a far off. To that consider, are all commands to no end and effect, that are not ful­filled by them to whom they are given? Sure then many commands given of God, must be concluded to be so, for how many commands of his are broken by men, & not fulfilled of them? Neh. 9.29. Jer. 32.23. Shall we say therefore they were to no end or effect? Sure his end is that we should presse, in his strength, after what is commanded, to our abi­lity, knowing that he accepts through Christ our endeavour, though we attain not here its perfection: and that where we are short we ac­knowledge it, and in the sense of it, being humbled in our selves, give glory to God, in, and for Christ, in whom we are (and by whom we shall be made) perfect; as Paul said of himselfe, to will was present with him, even to will all that the commandment requires, but how to perform it, he found not: yet was not the commandment without end or effect, in as much as in the inner man, he delighted in it and groaned for the day of perfect liberty, when there should be no let to do it perfectly; and thanked God in Christ Jesus, in whom he being perfect, was not under condemnation, for what he found not; as for being under commands after death, I say men shall fulfill command­ments after death given in this life; for must not the spirits of just men love God after the bodily death and in the resurrection? yea, shal they not then love him with all their heart, more perfectly than now they do, when they more perfectly injoy him? And yet they are commanded now to love him. So that the darknesse appears in G. W. To the other, that the Scripture saies not any where, Let not sin be in you. He saies, Is it not all one to say, be ye perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect, or wash you, make yee clean, keep Gods command­ment, love and serve him with all the heart, which must be fulfilled: then what part of man must be a subject for sin to dwell in while he lives here?] To the first of these, the saying, Be ye perfect, &c. Is not the saying, Let not sin be in you? Those words are not these, & no more necessarily included in them, than, Let no weaknesse, infirmity or mortality be in you, or no ignorance of any thing in heaven or earth; seeing God is as perfectly free from them, as from sin: but the sayings of Scripture are to be interpreted according to their scope, which there appears to be perfect in testifying or extending love to enemies, as well as friends, as God doth. As God is so perfect in charity, as to love and do good to the e­vil, and good, so would Christ have his disciples in an answerable sense, which how G. W. and the Quakers faile in their bitternesse and re­proaches sufficiently evidence. Nor is it all one to say, Wash you, make [Page 13]you clean, and let no sin be in you; for these phrases alluding to the washings under the Law; as it was not one and the same there, to say, Wash you from some uncleannesse defiling the flesh, and let no such un­clean or defiling humor, as of blood or other matter, be in your bo­dies; for the cleanest body had such humors in it, as, issuing out upon it, would defile it: So, neither is it all one to say, Wash you from your sins and defilements (which is done in confessing and denying them) and let no sin be in you; the being of sin in men, being not imputed, were not consented to, or sided with, no more than the being of un­clean humors within the body, were accounted to men when they did not issue out, to touch and ly upon the body. As Rom. 7.17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. and 8.1. Nor is it all one to say, Keep the commandments, love God with all the heart; for that requires no more, as to Gods gracious acceptation, than that as he is in the light, we walk in the light, and love him with all the ability of knowing and loving here given us; which is not, while here, so perfect as to have no ignorance of God, and so no sin in us; however those sayings are not that. To that question, In what part must sin dwell, &c. I say sin will, whither we will or no, dwell in our members while they be mortal. Rom. 7.17.20. with Psalm 143.2. So as no man living, should God enter into judgement with him, can be justified in his sight, which, [...]he saies next [...] Proves not that the Prophets and Apostles had sin in them while they lived, and seeing the Scripture it selfe doth not prove it, he saies, it's no matter of my word, who (he saies) perverts the Scripture therein, both belying me and the Scripture, for the Scripture gives this as the reason wher [...]o [...]e David would not that God should enter into judgement with him, though his servant, that no man living should be justified in his sight. Doth not, no man living, include no Prophet or Apostle, as men while here living, Suitable to that, Psal. 130.3. if thou Lord mark iniquities, Lord who shall stand? as implying none should. So that Scripture proves what I asserted, unlesse the Apostles and Prophets could be proved not to have been men so long as they lived.

He saies, That Scripture includes not the Saints, as to prove them un­justified, who were changed from that state wherein no man living could be justified in the sight of God, and were come through the death and the many tryalls and tribulations into the life and righteousnesse of Christ.] See here, Reader, if this man hath any thing but deceit? And is it a matter for his words without Scripture proofe? Was not David a Saint, when the servant of the Lord, and desires God to answer him in his faithfulness and righteousnesse? who is the accuser of the Saints here, but G. W. that implies, that David was not a Saint? or is no man living a Saint? Must they stay from being Saints till they are dead and Cano­nized by the Pope? If the Saints while they live here be men that live, then cannot they be justified if God should enter into judgement with them; either then say, that the Saints are not men living, while here a­live, [Page 14]or that David said false, or else that G. W, is a deceiver, and not to be listened to by us. And yet we say not, that the Saints be so in­cluded as to be unjustified while here, but that is not because they could be justified, should God enter into judgement with them, though he may judge them through him; he deals not with them immediately, as, or according to what they are in themselves, or according to their sins, Psal. 103.10, 11. But in, and according to his good will in Christ, what he speaks of a state in which they are come through the death, &c. What be they but his additions to the Scriptures, of which Davids saying gives no intimation. Is there any Saint living here in any state that is not a man living? or is it said, no man in the death, or that is, not yet passed through the death, can be justified? Alas, what be these things, but sorry deceitful evasions from plain truth. He saies, I relate part of our discourse deceitfully and imperfectly, and yet after que­stions, whether I relate it or not, and then laies down part of what is related about Pauls groning to be delivered, &c. But wherein I relate it imperfectly, much lesse deceitfully, he showes not, only saies, I have belyed and wronged his words and left out the greatest part of them that cleared his answer: and yet afterwards saies, he could not have liberty to open what he said so much there as here; and yet if the Reader compare what I related, with the sum of what he saies here, where he took his own liberty assuredly, without molestation from us, he will find, that besides his quotations and perversions of what he quotes from John, Jeremy & Isa. of which he then made no mention, I clearly laid down the substance of his sayings, and that he could not have liberty there to clear his sayings, is so far from truth, that we often urged him to answer, and he was so void of any clearing answer, that he would have left the argument to read on our book what did nothing concerne it. And that I have cast no lye nor scornfull slander upon him in saying, he was baffled (as he here charges me) may be evident from this, that to my demand of him, Whether the Apostles and Prophets, were not Apostles and Prophets when as he granted, they confest they had sin: he denies not that he granted, yea, nor that to my questioning, what state it was, then of which he said they had a time and state that they had no sin: he replied, when they were born of God, nor that to my question whether they were not born of God when Apostles and Prophets? he answered, that they (as Paul for in­stance) had a time when not born of God, viz. when he groaned and travelled, waiting for the adoption, nor doth he deny, that he went a­bout to clear up that, that he was not born of God while he so waited for the redemption of the body, only faults me for not giving a full relation of what he said to it: now then I do demand, if he was not baffled, to what purpose did he (upon my quoting 1 John 5.1. to prove that he was born of God all the time he was an Apostle) fly to an­other answer; that Paul spake to conditions below his own? If he was not quite beat off his other answer, why fled he to this? which cannot [Page 15]be true and the other too: For if Paul was but then groaning to be born, and not born of God, then spake he of his own state, and if he spaek to others states below his own then, then is it not true that he had, while an. Apostle, or then when he said, he so waited a time in which he was not born of God, so these two shifts clearly overthrow one the other. And whereas he saies, many that heard the dispute can witnesse a­gainst me for impudent belying and slandring him. I call God to witnesse, in whose presence I am, and dare appeal to all indifferent and under­standing Auditors, that I have not in any thing belyed or slandered him, much lesse impudently. Let us see what he himself saith he said, Paul witnessed, saith he, the groaning and travelling in pain before the birth was born in him, or before he was born of God, or in the state of him that was born of God. (Mark Reader his own inconstancy and confusion, as not knowing how to phrase it) intending (saith he) as 1 Iohn 3.9. who cannot sin, it seems he was so baffled that he could not then tell us his intention, nor now doth explain here those in 1 Joh. 3. are said to be born of God, only seems to imply, that he thinks there be other kinds of being born of God than that speaks of, which would or could he have cleared himself, he should have proved, and not so spoken with­out distinction and understanding. He adds, that Paul could sin, when he could do the evil he would not] which yet he proves not, seeing he ex­presly saies, it was not he that did it, but sin that dwelt in him, and to the Galatians, that the flesh lusting against the spirit, and the spi­rit against the flesh, they could not do what they would, and so it was there with him, as the law in his members, warring against the law in his minde, he could not do what in his spirit he would, so the inner man or spirit delighting in the law of God, and lusting against the flesh or law in his members, he could not do what his flesh would, and what sin in him did: yea, what his members or flesh, and so he (as denomina­ted by it) did, he as in the spirit, or according to the inner man (accor­ing to which John saies, whosoever is born of God cannot sin) could not do. What he adds about his travelling in pain for deliverance from the bondage of corruption, and that where the son or birth from above is born, the glorious liberty of the Sons of God is injoyed, which the creatures waited for, and the travelling in pain for deliverance is ceased, as also the first clause of his saying above related, that Paul witnessed the groaning and travelling in pain before the birth was born in him. Is all besides the bush, as in our re­lation of the discourse also is evidenced, for as I then and there cleared it, what Paul saies of travelling in pain and of deliverance from the bon­dage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God, he saies of the whole creation, distinguishing himself and the Sons of God, who had then received the first fruites of the spirit from the creature before spoken of, as is clear, Rom. 8.20, 21, 22, 23. for he saies, not only they, but we our selves also that have the first fruits of the spirit, even we our selves groan within our selves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of the body. It's clear, that the Apostles there, in ver. 19, 20. &c. speakes of the restitution of all things spoken of by the Pro­phets [Page 16](as Act. 3.21. When the glory of the Sons of God, that now suf­fer with Christ (as ver. 17.) even to the bodily death, shall be re­vealed; and when the creature it self, as distinct from them, even the fabrick of the world shall be renewed and freed from the bondage of corruption, that it is by occasion of mens sins subjected to in hope, for which freedome in it's kind, it groans and travels together till now, and for the redemption of the body, then also to be effected, from the bondage, to what it suffers now, and shall lye under, in some things till then, they the Sons of God distinct from the other creatures, also wait­ing, groaned; what groaning or travelling was necessary to precede the being born of God, Joh. 1.12, 13. so as to be made Sons of God, Paul and the o­ther holy Apostles and Prophets had it in their receiving Christ, before they were made Apostles and Prophers, though I deny not but in that birth there might be degrees and growth after, nor will the perfection of it, be as to the body till the resurrection thereof from the dead: So that yet it abides firme, that Paul, when born of God, confessed he had sin dwelt yet in him. Whereas he adds, That I perverted his compari­son, and that it was not intended to prove that Paul was not born into the world according to the flesh wherewith he travelled, &c. I answer, that G. W. grosly plaies the Sophister in representing me as wresting his compa­rison to any such intention. It's evident what I said is to this pur­pose, that as no woman travells with natural children before she her selfe be born, and be a woman; So neither did Paul groan for the re­surrection of the body, till himself was born of God in the mind and spirit, and so that he was born of God, when he so groaned as he there speaks of. His quotation of John 16.21, 22. is impertinent, for Christ speaks there of the sorrow they had before the spirit was powred down upon them, before they were sent out into all the world, as Act. 1.8. with Luke 24.49. which Paul had before he was an Apostle, and so before he made that confession of sin, Act. 9.17. in Rom. 7.17.20. or else also of their having sorrow in travelling to bring forth the knowledg of Christ in others, and their joy after in their being brought forth unto God, and most fully when they shal be presented with them, together at the great appearance of Christ in his glory at the resurrection of the just, as 2 Cor. 4.11, 12, 13, 14. that in Jer. 30.6. speaking of Jacobs sorrow in captivity, and their joy in their return again, is yet more imperti­nently alledged by him, and so is that in Isa. 9.6. abused; for the Prophet Isaiah doth not witnesse as George pretends, that in them a child was born, & in them a son was given; but to them, which he speaks prophetically of Christ given in the counsel, purpose and promise of God, and to be born in his time, which he speaks of, for its certainty as if then accomplished, though not to themselves, but to us in these after ages, they ministred the things now preached as accomplished; as the Apostle Peter tells us, 1 Pet. 1.11, 12. His confusion in saying one while, The Disciples travelled in sorrow before the man, or birth from above, was born in them, and presently, that they were in pain before they be­came [Page 17]that birth, I passe, as also his judging me as ignorant of the states he speaks of, their talking of a babe in them, fashioning their bodies to the likenesse here of Christs glorious body, I have writ and yet do testifie against, as arguing their unbelief, and denyal of the resurrection of the body, and the power of Christ thereto, which makes them turne the things thereabout into fancies and allegories of their own divifing, which shews them to be such as subvert the faith, and such as are to be counted accursed. That, I wickedly belyed the people in saying they all laught, because many of his friends, and others that were sober minded did not join with them, &c. Is as false as that Mathew wickedly belyed the people of Judea and about Jordan, in saying all Judea, and all the re­gions about Jordan went out to John, and were baptized of him, when it appears that the Pharisees rejected the counsel of God, and were not baptized of him, Mat. 3.5, 6. with Luke 7.30. I distinguished the people both from his friends and our selves, but are his friends no so­ber minded men, that they are distinguished from them; I speak of the generality of the people, if there were one or two did otherwise, it's more then I observed.

To that of, 1 John 5.1. Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. he cavils that I did it without understanding and with­out distinction, whereas it was his part being the answer, to have di­stinguished, if he understood any ground for it, and not mine, who was opponent; but something he will say, though to no purpose, how much more truly might I have said, what he charges me with, of the genera­lity of his own quotations in his answer, as that in 2 Sam. 22. 1 Joh. 3.9. and 1 John 4.17. and yet when in my postscript I distinguished of that in 1 John 3.9. He snatches at the first part of my distinction, (viz. that whosoever is perfectly born of God (as the spirits of just men made perfect, and the men themselves in the Resurrection) cannot sin at all; but none so perfectly born of God here) taking no notice of the other propositions that speak of men, as here born of God, and then cries out. Oh what pittiful stuffe is here to imagine men are not per­fectly born of God, so as not to sin till deceased; this would make the worke of God imperfect here, when all his works are perfeci; & then taxes me as if I had said, that those that were born of God in the Apostles daies, were some that were deceased and risen again. Whereas I in the other part of the distinction shewed how those that are born of God, while here, may be said not to sin, and that they cannot sin; but why is it such pittifull stuffe, to say, that the spirits of just men deceased, & the men themselves when rai­sed, are, or shall be, more perfectly born of God, the while here living? do they gain no degree of perfection by death? where then is the ad­vantage they have by it? Nor shall they gain none in the resurrection neither, when seeing him as he is, they shall be like him? 1 John 3.2. or have the present propositions of truth, all their fulfilling at the present? He that hath the Son hath life, 1 John 5.12. Have they not so that are deceased in him? and shall they not have him, and life more fully [Page 18]in the resurrection, if G. believe it? And why must the work of God be imperfect, if men be not perfectly born of God here? was the work of God, all whose works are perfect, imperfect when Paul said, not that I am already perfect, or have already attained? Philip. 3.12. or be­cause the Fathers dyed in the faith, not having received the promises God, having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect, Heb. 11.39. Were the works of God there­fore imperfect till these last ages? If so, then why not so too till the re­surrection? If they were perfect alwaies, and in all generations, then mens not being perfectly born of God, while here, hinders not their perfection, no more then Pauls or the Fathers being not perfect did. Surely G. W. is very silly, if he think as he writ here, and a very de­ceiver, if he thought otherwise, and they be simple that are catcht with such chaff, or worthy to be blind still that will not see it, but let us see what distinction he hath devised upon, 1 John 5.1. to save his credit. He saies, It's true according to Johns testimony of a true believer, who by faith hath victory over the world, and so being born of God, is not under the bondage of corruption, &c. But such he saies I. H. doth not own while men are here.] Folly and falsehood, folly, for he implies, that Johns saying is not true without distinction, and yet John said it without distinction; for he said not, whosoever so, or so, believeth that Jesus is the Christ, but in general expressions whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. True it is that he saies ver. 4. whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith, but then in ver. 5. he explicates what their faith was answerable to, ver. 1. saying, who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God, which is all one with whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ; clearly fignify­ing, that he that believeth that, is born of God, and so overcometh the world, even the spirit, rudiments, and pollutions of the world so as none else: and that they who believe not (that is, with their heart believe not) that Jesus (even that Jesus of Nazareth whom the Jews crucified bodily, and God raised from the dead (for hesides him the Apostles did preach no other Jesus, name, or thing, within men or without men to be the Saviour, or salvation of God to be believed on, Acts 4.10, 11, 12.) is the Christ the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, the annointed one to bring us back to God, the propitiation for our sins, the righteousnesse and life given us of God; I say he implies that they who believe not him to be the Christ, or annointed Saviour, in, and through, what he hath done and suffered for us in the body of his flesh, and is become for us therethrough, and is doing for us in hea­ven on Gods right hand, as the great Mediator and high Priest for us, and from heaven, to, and in us, as the great Apostle and Prophet of our profession, and Lord of all; and in what he is appointed to do, and will do at his glorious descent from heaven, and appearing, and king­dome then to be revealed in glory; they have not, nor do overcome [Page 19]the world: But whatever be their pretences and appearances to men of being out of, and above the world, they are overcome of the world and are in the worlds state; being led of and by the god of the world and rudiments of it, which lead men that seek after righteousness and hope toward God, to seek it in themselves and their doings, mor­tifications and frames; but not to go out of themselves into Christ and his name, to accept of him (even that Jesus of Nazareth, as made sin for them, and raised again for their justification, and glorified at Gods right hand) for their wisdome, righteousnesse, holynesse and redemp­tion, and so to have their rejoycing in him, and expectation from him, and of him, at his appearing: they who have so received him and abide in him, are indeed born of God, and have overcome the world: But they that do not so receive him, are in and of the world, who neglect­ing him, and counting faith in him foolishnesse, live and rejoice in their own good meanings, honesty, zeal, blamelesnesse, mortificati­ons and devotions, as the Pharisees and some false Apostles did, who yet were of the world, though they had avoluntary humility and shew of wisdome therein, in neglecting the body, &c. Col. 2.18, 23. And much men may have that way, and great appearance of having over­come the world, because they can, and do deny themselves of many grosser comforts and vanities of it, and indure much voluntary hard­ship or sufferings from others of it, as the Priests of Baal, 1 Kings 18.28, 40. And the old Philosophers, and wordly religious amongst both Turks and Papists, who also glory in such things, and yet are deeply in the spirit of the world, even as by that description of the overcomer of the world, here given by Iohn; the Quakers, so called, are evidenced to them, that judgement carnally by outward appearance (as most do, which makes them have so many Proselites) but by the spirituall eye of faith, however they bost themselves as perfect, and vaunt themselves as out of, and overcomers of the world; yet they are most deeply and dangerously, though most mystically, and to the world-ward indiscern­ably overcome of the world, and the spirit of the world; as being most out of, and reprobate concerning the faith that overcomes the world, viz. That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, they accounting his coming in the flesh (as Rich. Hubberthorne seconded by G. W.) to be but a figure, and touching his being in heaven and work there, and coming thence, being most dangerously corrupt and unbelievers; ha­ving their rejoycing and glorying not in that person of Jesus and his sufferings and sacrifice according to the Scripture; as their book, in answer to us, and their writings generally evidence, but in them­selves, their sinlesnesse pretended, and in their actings and sufferings, by which it is evident that they are not born of God, nor have over­come the world whatever outsideappearances they walke and glory in. 2. Because I produced according to Johns testimony without distinction or alteration, and meant it only of true believing. 3. He saies it's true of true believers; as if he would imply that Paul and the other holy [Page 20]men, when they said they had sin in them, were not true believers, though in some other false sense believes that Jesus is the Christ; what, were the Apostles hypocrites when they said they had sin in them; that George thinks them not then to have been true believers? For if they were not true believers, they were feigned believers; and we may well bear G. W.'s railing language of us, and his judging us to be hypocrites, if he judged the Apostles, when Apostles, were such, sure G. W. did better before, when he waved it, and fled before the power of God in it, than to rake up such an evasion, as implies his taxing the Apostles to be no true believers when they confessed their sins; or that they [...]ad not overcome the world, when they were translated out of it, into Christ, and held forth the faith of Christ against all oppositions of the World; then he is guilty of falsehood, in saying John describes the true believers to be from under the bondage of corruption, when he makes no mention of the bondage of corruption, though that they are so in some sense is true; but then he saies false, and belies me in saying, that I own not such while men are here, for in such a sense, as true believers are free from the bondage of corruption, that is, from being detained under the guilt of sin and condemnation for it, or the dominion of it, so as to inslave them to it; I own believers, though not from the being of it in their members, is it all one to have corrupti­on in a man, yea, and in many things to offend, and to be under the bondage of corruption? Was James under the bondage of corruption, as corruption signifies sin, when he said, in many things we offended all; or John, when he said, If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves, &c. Surely G. W. had need to goe to school to learn more un­derstanding before he be a teacher, that cannot distinguish things that so broadly differ. He saies, A man must believe that Jesus is the Christ, and believe in him too, before he be born of God, as Christ said believed in the light, [...] ye may be the children of the light. What is this but to fight against the Apostle John, and to tell him, Nay John thou saist not truly in saying, who ever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Men may believe that and yet not be born of God, for that goes before a mans being born of God, and yet some things are before others in order of nature, that yet are not without them; as he that hath life hath breath, & yet, in order of nature, life is before breath: & so though it be true, that men must believe in the light, that they may be the children of the light; yet, it followes not, that some do believe in it that are not the children of it, and yet even they that are born of God, and so are children of the light, may be further born of it, and so more the children of God; that is, like unto God, as the Disciples when born of God (for God was their Father) yet Christ bids them to love their enemies, &c. That they might be the children of their Fa­ther, Mat. 6.44, 45. And yet again, There is some difference be­tween believing in the light, and believing Jesus to be the Christ, some did believe in the light, before they believed that Jesus is the Christ as Nathaniel and Cornelius and divers others. So that here is nothing in [Page 21] Geo. yet, but deceit, and opposition to the Scripture sayings, nay, G is broadly contradictory to John the Apostle, and sticks not to make him a lyer, plainly afterward, as well as safely to perswade people that some of his party perceived my deceit. For saith he, What people are there of any understanding, even among those Priests, which this Priest Horne calls greedy dogs, strong to appetite, that doe not believe that Jesus is the Christ? Are they therefore born of God?] What is this but to cast the lye upon John, for being so rash as to say, whosoever believeth Jesus is the Christ, is born of God, when as he saies, such as he reviles as the worst of men, do that, and yet are not born of God? Judge Reader, Whom shall we here believe? the Apostle John or Geo. Whitehead? Is it not better and truer to say, what ever men perswade themselves of, and what ever they pretend, they do not believe Jesus to be the Christ, that are not born of God, than thus rashly to give the Apostle the lye: That George fled to another shift when beat by that Scripture from his former answer, that the Apostles were not born of God while they confessed sin, he denies not; but indeavours to justifie here, what he therein said. For he saies here again, that The Apostle condescended to the Romans to several states which be passed through, and which was be­low his own, when he writ to them. Which is not to the purpose, For when he writes to the Romans of the states, he had passed through, he writes of them as things past, not as present, as Rom. 5.10. When we were enemies he reconsiled us; he saies not, we are yet enemies, so Chap. 7.9. I was alive without the Law, but when the Law came, sin revived and I dyed; and so in 1 Tim. 1.13. Who was before a blasphemer and a Persecutor and injurious; we never find him when he was an Apostle, to say, I am a blasphemer, &c. But of sin being in him, he writes in the present time; I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, there dwells no good thing, and I am carnal, sold under sin, (not, I sell my self to sin as Ahab, but am sold as by an other, with reference to what was done to him in Adam, and yet remained upon him, as to the flesh,) and that he spake of himself too, and not of others excluding himself, is evident, ver. 25. So then I my selfe (marke he saies I my self) with my mind serve (he saies not did serve) the Law of God, but with my flesh the Law of sin. Should we say, we our selves do what we only mean others do, he and his fellowes would call us lyers, and yet he fears not to fasten such an imputation in effect upon the Apostles, one after another.

He would confirme his former saying from Rom. 6.19. which is to as little purpose, as if he had quoted Gen. 1.1. For the Apostle there speaks nothing of himself, or of any state that he saies he was then in, as mentioning his own person, but speaking of spiritual things under earthly metaphors (as of Masters and Servants, and freedom from ser­vitude) He saies, I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmi­tie of your flesh. But is this the manner of men, to speak untruths of them selves, as to say, they are in that state they are not, to make their speech [Page 22]more understandable, or doth the Apostle speak any thing sounding to that sense there? He saies not there, I yeeld my members servants to uncleannesse; but as ye have (in time past) yielded your members ser­vants to uncleannesse, &c. so yeeld your members now servants of righteousnesse. Was it not as understandable, for the Apostle to have said, I did sometime find a Law in my members, but now I have got rid of it, and there is no sin in me, as if it had been so as to say, I do see a law in my members? yea, might not this more encourage them to sin than that, if it be as G. W. often casts upon us a pleading for sin, to con­fess that sin is in the Saints? It clearly appears in all this still, that G.W. is much out of the way, and the truth is, neither in, nor with him; for where it could distinguish between Paul, as after the flesh, and as after the spirit in the same time, in his flesh in bondage, and in his mind free, and waiting for the deliverance of his body too in due time, both from sins and sufferings: But how can he distinguish such things, that could not distinguish things nearer hand? But whereas I said, I was able in the strength of God to worry such Foxes as he, that is to bassle and confound them, as I also actually was helpt to do, yet because I say, after that people see I was weary and spent, he vapors as if I was not therefore in the strength of God, forgeting that of the Apostle, that at the same time in different respects, a man may be strong and weak both; when I am weak, then am I strong; and, I was among you in weakenesse, yet my speech was in the demonstration of the spirit and power, 1 Cor, 2.3, 4. Surely when I said I was able to worry him, in the strength of the Lord, I did not say, or signifie, nor could any of the people I suppose so ap­prehend me, that I was able to beat him at handicuffs, or had stron­ger Lungs then he, but that I was able, by the power of the truth, to make manifest his deceits: which also God gave me bodyly strength to do, so as to the satisfaction of the indifferent auditory, and had I nee­ded more to that, I question not but he would have given it me: He that cannot distinguish spiritual strength from bodily, how should he distinguish between Pauls state after the spirit, and his state at the same time after the flesh? As a man in the flesh, warring yet against sin, and wishing for deliverance (for that's the force of that phrase (who will deliver?) as Deut. 5.29. according to the Hebrew, who will give them an heart to fear me? argues not that the Lord was ignorant, or doubt­ed who would, but an earnest desire that they had such an heart) but in the same time he thanked God by Jesus Christ. Rom. 7.24, 25. and so Paul was free in his spirit and more than a conqueror in all his suffer­ings, though Christ who dwelt in his heart by faith (though I never read what G. W. intimates that Christ was in Pauls flesh, though there­in, and therethrough he might manifest his power and vertues) but us to his body that was not above prison and weaknesse and death, even so, neither was his flesh free from sin being in it, though his spirit was set free and above it.

Paul (saith he) made himselfe a servant to all, that he might gain the more, and became a Jew to the Jew, and weak to the weak. True, in his use of indifferent things, such as meats, drinks, wages, &c. But he be­came not a Jew to the Jew, in not believing or confessing Jesus to be the Christ, and though to those that being weak in the Faith, doubted of their liberty to some such outward things as before mentioned; he also abstained from the use of his freedome to them, not telling them of his liberty, lest he should offend them; but in those things having his faith to himselfe, as if he also was weake, as he advises others, Rom. 14.22. 1 Cor. 10.28, 29. Yet it's evident that was not the case here. For to what purpose should he pretend, in some places to be in such states, & in other places of the same Epistle, to the same people, express himself to be far above such states, as G.W. saies he did, in saying, he was at peace with God, &c. So that these appear (as indeed they are) silly shifts of G. W. to hide the nakednesse of his assertion and corruption of his judgement, but they will not do it. As for his personal accusa­tions of us, as uncivil, and bawling and wrangling, and desiring to tie him up to Yea and Nay, they are vain and false accusations, and so I shall passe them; As also his after insinuations of rantings, and loves a­mongst us, and of a woman set up for a Teacher by us (when of any woman set up to teach by us, I know none: who turned Ranters is known so be some of their lusts, &c.) as also his charging me, as speak­ing of G. Rose as a distracted man, and yet bringing his words against them, when as I said but, that the people heard him begin at a distance like a kind of distracted man, to call out, not that I counted him a di­stracted man; these personal and untrue reflections, I say I passe as impertinencies. And as for his saying, We would not suffer him to read in our Book, and yet we read out of theirs, and his vain and false insi­nuations therefrom, the ridiculousnesse thereof is sufficiently cleared in the relation of our discourse, though he take no more notice of it, than if no such thing had been mentioned. His asking questions, when he should have answered, were meer diviations from our businesse; and yet I know of none that I answered not then, except that [what death came in by sin] which he sought in subtilty, as I conceived, to put me upon, that he might wind out from the thing that puzled him. As for his feeling the power of God over us] He might feel it over us indeed, to protect us, and inable us to baffle him, for which we blesse the Lord, but otherwise it appeared not with him, in his answers, nor yet appear­eth with him, in what he hath written in his own vindication. He saies, The Apostles wept with them that wept, and waite for the Redemption of the body where it was not redeemed; as he travelled for the Gallatians, &c. Which are nothing to the purpose, for a man may weep with those that weep, without saying falsly, that he is exercised with the same trials in himselfe, and of his own, as others weep under: Cannot I weep with such as weep for the absence of Gods spirit from them, or for the losse of some neer relation, unlesse I say, I am in the same condi­tion [Page 24]with them. Nay, if I say its so with me, as with them, then do I not shew such charity to them; for then it may rather be judged, that I weep for my own afflictions, than with them for theirs, one saying of the Apostle any where, that his body was already redeemed from that bondage, the redemption of it from which he there saies, he waited for, were more then and hundred such shifts, his proofs alleadged in our discourse, from Rom. 8.2. 2 Cor. 13.8. He was then so answered to, and beaten from that, he hath here passed them over, as not able to relieve him. For the Apostles travelling for the Galatians; as I remember in the dispute, he disclaimed it then, for making for his purpose when T. M. was answering him to it, thinking he had had some reference to it, in what he spake about Pauls travelling, and that, its not to his purpose is evident, because the Apostle saies not there, as in the o­ther place of the Romans, that he waited or travelled for the redemption of his own body, no, nor for the redemption of their bodies, but till Christ was formed in them, not coupling in himselfe together with them as condescending in such a manner to their states.

Setting down two or three of my questions, together without his answer to them, he then taxes me for omitting the word (bondage) in speaking of the redemption of the body, which word he saies he u­sed, a great matter, is it not, when as the very word redemption implies some bondage to be redeemed from, nor doth the Apostle use the word, Bondage, in speaking of the redemption of their body, the creatures groaning to be delivered, and the Saints waiting for the redemption of the body we before shewed (at the dispute also) to be distinct things and not the same.

He saies here again, That the Saints had that redemption of the body from the bondage of corruption, when the creatures were delivered into the glori­ous liberty of the Sons of God before their decease. But he proves it not, nor could do at the dispute; 'tis proofs we looke for, and not bare asser­tions upon his own authority, which without proof from Scriptures, weighs with us nothing. The Scripture neither saies, that the crea­tures had the deliverance into the liberty of the Sons of God, nor that the Saints had the redemption of their body before their decease, but speaks of both as things future, and therefore groaned and waited for, see else, Rom. 8.19, 20, 21, 22, 23. And indeed they could not be before those Saints deceased, for evident it is that the Apostle (ver. 17.18.) speaks about their sufferings with Christ, and reigning with Christ, and speaks of the sufferings with him; as first, and the Reigne, as a thing afterward; the sufferings are of this present time, or life, but the glory is to be after revealed, and therefore spoken of as in the future, to this present time, [shall be revealed in or upon us] and about that glory and revelation of it, and the redemption of the body from the sufferings that go before it speaks, ver. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Now seeing the glory could not be revealed nor the redemption of the body (from the sufferings) be before the sufferings be accomplished, and their [Page 25]sufferings (even the sufferings of the present time) were to bodily Death, therefore it followes, that the redemption of the body from the bondage it was under, in, and by those sufferings could not be till after their decease, except the Redemption be before the bondage, and the glory thereof before the sufferings, contrary to the Apostles order, in speaking of them; which one consideration to those that can and will see, may suffice to shew, that it's no error or absurdity in me (as G. W. after reckons it) to say, that the corruption which Paul wait­ted and groaned for, the Redemption of his body from, is the corrup­tion of mortality (in part) though he hath belyed me, by his addi­tion, in saying, as part of my assertion [in which the body is in death, when it is in corruption] for I had no such non-sensical expression.

That the Apostles waited for the Redemption of the body from all the bondage and misery that the sufferings of this time, or life could bring it to, and so from bondage to death and grave also, and in that hope and expectation, yeilded up their bodies to sufferings for Christs sake, is evident in the Scriptures. It was the hope of the Resurrection even of that resurrection of the dead, in which, what is sown in Corrup­tion, is raised in Incorruption, that led them into Jeoperdies, & to fight with Beasts after the manner of men, 1 Cor. 15.30, 32, 42, 53. & that made them speak, though death therethrough wrought in them, 2 Cor. 4.12, 13, 14. Oh how wicked and corrupt concerning the faith, are these men that deride the looking for, and hope of that Redemption of the body, because a thing so many hundreds of yeares off! as if be­cause so far off, therefore they did not look for it: Whenas the Fa­thers that died in the Faith, and received not, as then, the promises, lived many hundred years before the Apostles, and yet they saw these promises a far off, and imbraced them, and confessed themselves strang­ers and Pilgrims in hope and expectation of a City and Country pre­pared for them, Heb. 11.13, 14, 15, 39, 40. in the receit of which they shall not be perfect without us believers of these last ages. Now what they hoped for they waited for too; For if we hope for what we see not, then do we with expectation wait for it, saith the Apostle, Rom. 8.24, 25. And if they (the Fathers) hoped and waited, and yet wait, for the Redemption of their body in the resurrection of it, might not the Apostles much more, to whom it was by many hundreds of years nearer? or is it more absurd to say Paul hath not yet the Redemption of the body for which he waited, then that Abraham hath not yet received all the promises for which he hoped? or that either of their bodies are not yet raised, nor that glorious ap­pearance of Christ yet come, in which they are to be raised? Their expectation of which, while here, led them to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts, Tit. 2.12, 13, 14. But it appears plainly [...] G. W's. deriding such an expectation, that he expects and waits for, nor groans after no such thing, whatsoever he subtilly say after that, ver. 13, 14, 16. of 1 Thes. 4. he never denyed nor doubted of, and so slighted dispu­ting [Page 26]about it, no, no, he was not willing to open his corrupt sense too broadly about them, as may after appear.

He saies, Paul groaned not to be uncloathed, but cloathed upon; True, it was not death he groaned for, but to be clothed upon with his house from heaven, which because they knew they could not be clothed with, till the earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved, therefore they were willing rather to be absent from the body, 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. But if Paul, when he wrote that Epistle, groaned for that re­demption of the body, which he saies he groaned for when he writ to the Romans, (as G.W. also implies, by his quoting that place to parallel the other, as indeed it doth) then why did G. W. at the dispute endeavour to prove, that the Apostle had that Redemption of the body when he writ this Epistle, because he saies therein, Chap. 13.8. he could do nothing against the truth, but for the truth? Thinks he, that Paul received that Redemption of the body, between his writing, what is in Chap. 5. and what is writ in Chap. 13? Surely such a charge would have made him some where, in the very writing, break forth into an extraordinary Tryumph, more than we find him therein, between the said passages to do. Indeed Chap. 12. he tels us, of being taken up into Paradise, and of abundance of Revelations, but whi­ther in the body, or not, he knew not; and besides, he speakes of things above 14 yeares before, and sure he was not so long writing that Epi­stle, or did G. W. rather wittingly, bring that saying, to blind and de­ceive people? That appears most likely, and so that he is a Deceiver indeed, and to be therefore counted accursed. 'Its true, too that Paul calls that Redemption of the body, the Adoption, and Christ was made under the Law, to Redeem those that were under the Law, that they might receive the Adoption of Sons;] and that Adoption the Apostle had received in his spirit, when he said he waited for the Adoption, the Redemption of he body, for in Rom. 8.15, 16. he saies, even of them he wrote to (and therefore their state was not a state below being Sons of God, and so born of God) Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry abba Father, and the spirit it self beareth witnesse with our spirits, that we are the children of God. And therefore surely born of God, though yet they waited for that Adoption, the Redemption of the body, ver. 23. So that still the more G. strugles, the more he is proved a deceiv­er, and my charge appears made good against him, and no ly for me to say so. Nor need to prove, that the Prophets and Apostles had sin in them, and were sinners so long as they lived (though that also was done from Psal. 143.2. as before) it's enough that they confesse sin in them, and waited for the Redemption of the body, after they were born of God, which was the thing that G. denyed. Nor need I prove that the Quakers preach themselves free from sin, seeing they grant (or deny not) that charge against them in their answer to our first Book. Nor will their having confessed their sins serve the turne, as was shewed at the beginning; though yet G. W. is here covering [Page 27]and pleading for his sins or errors, as it is apparent, so the Apostles did not, much lesse need we, prove that they, preach themselves perfect, as if their preaching made them perfect] for no body ever charged them with such a thing in that sense. It's enough, that they preach them­selves to be so perfect, as that they have no sin, for which they need Christ to be their Propitiation.

See again Reader, how George is put to his shifts about Asa. 'Tis not said (saith he) that his heart was perfect all his life-time] as if all his daies (to wit, of his reigne) did not last to the end of his life, had he a life time after all his daies were ended? If he lived some daies after his heart ceased to be perfect, then was not his heart perfect all his daies, and then the Scripture saith not truly, shall we believe the Scriptures or G. W's, glosse? That his heart was perfect all the while be did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and while the Land was quiet under his reigne, but not after. That is a glosse of his own brain, against the authority of the Text, seeing that time was not all his daies, nor is it said, his worke was perfect all his daies, but his heart; and that might be perfect, as to his owning no god but the true God, and desiring to approve it selfe to him, notwithstanding some rash passions, and neglect in seeking to him for a time, as well as it is said to have been perfect, notwithstanding the high places were not removed, 1 Kings 15.14. As some Kings whose works were perfecter did, & as he also should have done, had his works been perfect and sinlesse. But wee see, both by what he saies to this and other Scriptures before mentioned, George makes no great matter of justling his authority with the authority of the Scriptures, which evidences him to be a dangerous fellow, not to be listened to. View we his endeavours, to vindicate his corrupt sayings about the coming of Christ, mentioned, 1 Thes. 4.15, 16. to which coming they said in their Book, the Saints that were then alive re­mained. He saies, I wrested their words, and made a false construction of them, contrary to the end and intent of them, for what they said (he saith) was against our imaginations, who look (he saies) carnally for the coming of Christ, as many of the World do, of whom Christ said, I go away and the world seeth me no more. John 14.

Ans. That I wrested not his words, let their words and mine, being compared, witnesse; They said, as for that, 1 Thes. 4.15. (our quotati­on they answered to, was 1 Thes. 4.15, 16. concerning the coming of the Lord from heaven (which phrase is v. 16. not the 15th. though they both speak of the same coming) that coming of Christ the Saints that were then alive remained to it. Now from that I inferred, that if they remained to that coming, wherein they that are found alive, shall not prevent them that sleep, then they remained to that coming, in which the dead in Christ (even the dead bodies of the Saints that sleep in such sence as it's said, that Stephen fell asleep when he dyed, shall be raised, and the living changed, &c. Now let the Reader, read 1 Thes. 4.15.16. and see if that doth not necessarily follow; and whither that be not the coming of the Lord there spoken to, to which [Page 28]that phrase [we that live and remain] is coupled, in verse 15, 16, and 17. So that if the Apostles and Saints then living, did remain to the coming of Christ from Heaven there spoken of, (as they said) then did they remain till his coming with a shout, and the voice of the Arch­angel, and the dead in Christ being raised, as is evident; And I did not wrest their words besides the drift of them, only they meant not indeed, that they lived to the Resurrection of the dead bodies of the Saints (though of that the Apostle there speaks) because they believe no such thing, but undermine it as I charged them. That we carnaly looke for the coming of Christ, as many of the world do] is not only their reproof of us, but an intimate blaspheming of the truth, for we ex­pressed no other looking for the coming of Christ from Heaven, but that spoken to in 1 Thes. 4.15, 16. Philip. 3.21. which here they re­proach as an imagination of ours, as earnally looking for him; as if it was but a carnal imagination, to think that Christ shall ever so de­scend, and come in like manner from heaven, as the Disciples see him go up into heaven, that is, visibly and bodily, by which reproach they are more made manifest to be Deceivers, and such as ought to be accounted accursed by us, as underminers of the hope of the Gospel, nor doth Christ say in John 14. as G. secretly implies, that the world shall see him no more, he shall come no more visibly to them, but the world (after a little while) seeth me no more, or not yet ( [...]) it is in the present time, seeth me not yet, or no more, because he is now only to be seen in the spirit by faith, whilst he is in bodily a b­sence, and the world hath not that faith by which to see him.

He saith, He vindicated those words of theirs, and witnessed to the seve­ral comings of Christ, as he was revealed to the Saints, from glory, to glory] How he vindicated their words, both the relation of our discourse (which he confirmes herein to be true, and that he had no cause to fault me, for saying his answers were to that purpose, as I have related them (which I added because I did not pretend to, nor could I re­late every word of his answer, with all the circumstances, tautologies and circumlocutions of them) for to the same purpose as he here ex­presses I related) and what he saith here shews: unlesse by (vindica­ting their words) he mean (as a distinct thing, from witnessing to the several comings of Christ, as he was revealed to the Saints, &c.) what he alledged from the next Chapter about sleeping, and from Jo. 5.25. about the dead hearing the voice of the Son of God, and from 1 Thes. 1.10. Of the Thessalonians waiting from the coming of Christ from Heaven; and then also, he both confirmes my relation, that mentions those answers, before his talking of the several degrees of Christs revealing himself to the Saints, and so that he falfly cavils af­terward, when he saies, that, in pag. 11. I lay down many words that he never spake] for there are not many words of his laid down in that page, as the Reader thereof may see, and what is laid down as his, I dare call God, and the Auditory to witnesse I have not wronged him [Page 29]in, yea and he himself in this answer, acknowledges divers of them, and also how sorrily he vindicated their words, or rather how grosly he prevaricated instead of vindicating them, alledging the sleeping in security, against which the Apostle warnes them, 1 Thes. 5.6. as an interpretation of the sleeping in Jesus, about which in, 1 Thes. 4.13, 14, 15. he comforts them; and the raising the dead in sins, 1 Joh. 5.25. as answering to the rising of the dead in Christ, 1 Thes. 4 16. and the coming of Christ from Heaven, which the believing Thessalonians that had turned from dumb Idols waited for, as all one with that efficacy of the voice of Christ, causing the dead in sins to hear, and hearing, to live, spoken of John 5.25. Such a vindication of their words, was but a more evident manifestation of their ignorance and corruption.

He adds, that he, Never denyed the coming of the Lord from Heaven, when he shall bring with him, them that sleep in Jesus, and raise the dead in Christ, nor ever said, that that was already over and past. As he saies I be­lyed him. That he in so many expresse words, denyed the coming of Christ from Heaven, when he shall bring with him them that sleep, I never charged him; nor did he ever confesse that coming, & that bring­ing with him them that sleep in him, and raising the dead in Christ, the Apostle there speaks of, but undermines it, while he saies, that the Saints then alive remained to it: And calls our expecting it, but an Imagination of ours, and a carnal looking for him, yea, and though he did not in expresse words directly say it is over and past, yet his say­ing the Saints then alive (namely when the Apostle so wrote) remained to it, clearly implies it, for is not remained a word of the time past, he said not, they do or shall remain to it, but remained in the time past and over. Thinks he we cannot understand words, when we hear them? But he intimates his crafty meaning, in saying he never said, that was already over and past, a few line, after. When he saies, What con­fusion would I charge upon them (and is that a strange thing to find them in confusion) as to say, the coming of Christ, at which, the dead in him are to be raised, is already past and over, as if that which is yet to be, is over and past.

See here, the sence in which G. W. never said, that coming of Christ, is over and past, not that that coming of Christ there spoken of, 1 Thes. 4.15, 16. Is over and past to the Apostles and Saints of that age; To them Christ came, and the dead in him were raised, and they, the then living Saints, were changed, and all caught up together to meete him in the ayre; This G. denies not to be their meaning; nay he implies it to be their mind, in his next words. viz. That with that non-sence I might as well have charged the Saints as them, who remained, unto the coming of the Lord, and yet did not prevent them, which were asleep from being raised, in which (besides other corruptions, which I may by and by mention) he asserts that those Saints, did re­maine to that coming of the Lord, mentioned, 1 Thes. 4.15, 17. thats [Page 30]not the thing he ever said was over and past, viz. That coming of the Lord to those Saints; but in this sence, he never said it, viz. That as it is to come yet, or yet to be (as he implies the same, or like coming is to some in these and following ages) so he never said it was over and past, for that's nonsence, to say, what shall be, is past. Minde then Reader, what corruption of mind he here implies, namely that, that coming of Christ there spoken of, is not to be, to all dead and living Saints at once, even to all that dyed and lived in their several ages, to­gether with those of us (that is, of the body of believers, all which, in all ages, the Apostle speaks there of, as of one society or body, as in mine answers I cleared, that to be the sence of the Apostles) that shall then be found living, and remaining to it; But that that coming of Christ was to the Saints in that age, and is to the Saints in every age; but if so, then I would know what Saints did not live and remain to that coming, if he come to the Saints in every age, do any Saints dye before he come, and not remain to it, as the Apostle im­plies distinguishing the living and remaining, from them that sleep and are dead in Christ? If some dyed before his coming to the living, did those dead Saints rise at his coming to those living ones in every age? If so, then they make a Resurrection of the dead, even the dead in body, in every age, or continually, and yet that which was corruptable in them, never puts on incorruption, but lies and Rots, for their corruptable bodies lye yet in their Sepulchres, as it's said of Da­vids after many generations. But if the dead Saints rise not again, in every age when Christ comes to the living, then how do not the living Saints prevent those that are asleep? Why, for that G. W. finds out a new devise to salve that matter, while he ads of his own head, they prevent them not from rising, but those words (from rising) are his own, not in the Text, nor doth the word ( [...], prevent) signifie such a thing there, as to hinder or keep from a thing, as G.W. ignorantly im­plies; but the sence is, we shal not be before them. The living Saints shal not be in their glory before those, which are dead, even as to their bo­dies, and so the word (prevent) that comes of prevenire, signifies in Psal. 88.13. and 119, 147, 148. and else where.

He saies, When he urged the Apostles remaining till the coming of the Lord, as in 1 Thes. 4.15, 17. I to render him edious (nay to discover his deceits) urged, ver. 13, 14, 16. which he saies, he never denyed, nor doubted of her. And so he slighted disputing about it, though I would make it disputable, as if all those verses spake not of the same coming of Christ; or as if the word, then, (then we which are alive, and re­main, ver. 17.) did not clearly pelate to the coming with a shout, and the dead in Christ rising, spoken of in ver. 16. And as if he slighted and waved disputing about those verses, and yet mentioned the sleeping spo­ken of in Chap. 5.6. and the dead living by the voice of Christ, 1 John 5.25. With evident reference to what I urged from ver. 13, 14, 15. where those phrases of sleeping, and dead in Christ are men­tioned, [Page 31]thus we see Foxes have their holes to creep into when persued by the truth; but these do but slenderly hide his deceit. He grants, his mention of John 5.25. touching the dead hearing the voice of the Son of God, and what occasion had he to mention that, if he slighted disputing about the 16. verse, where the dead being raised, is mentio­ned? He ha [...]h a starting hole, such as it is, for that too; For he saies, That these that were dead, or asleep, in their sins, might come to be raised out of them, and live. This he saies, He knew was the most needful for many people that heard us, to know, they having such as I for their Teachers, whose Ministry (he slanderously saith) doth greatly tend to keep men in their sins, when we so much strive for sin, in contending and pleading for it, as I have done. Ah shameful subterfuge! canst thou not smell a Fox hear, Rea­der? Historians say, when they are closly persued, they fling about their pisse with their tailes to annoy their persuers with its stench, and so doth G. W. here; For is it likely he would run from vindicating him­self against my charge, and clearing himself of the guilt of it (which had been the best course to bring people off from listening to my Ministry, and to have attended to theirs, in which he supposes the voice of Christ may be better met with to raise them from their sins) to mention a Scripture as paralleling the rising of the dead in Christ, which is quite to another purpose, and so to give me advantage against him, to make all the people see his weaknesse and impertinency, and inability to de­fend himself against my charge? Was his bare mentioning that Scrip­ture and waving it againe, when I shewed its impertenency, that way to raise them out of their sins, that were a sleep in them? Or was that the voice of the Son of man, that the dead hear? Oh sorry man and hard put to it, that is forced to devise such sorry shifts to hide himselfe in! and what would he do if he had not that slander at his tongues end (that we plead for sin, and that our Ministry tends to keep people in it) which reflects upon the Apostles equally with us, as I have before shew­ed?

Surely a great part of his Books are usually made up with the re­peating of that senslesse reproach. For surely our Preaching the Do­ctrines of the Resurrection and the judgement to come, more directly tend to awake people out of sins; yea, our telling them that they have sin in them to watch against, then their corrupt denyals and under­minings of those doctrines do. Thus I have further made good my charge in vindicating my mannagement of it from his cavils therea­gainst, in the main things objected by him. The rest are more trivial, and a shorter touch will serve to overthrough them, as his chargeing me with, A dissembling imitation, in saying I appealed to that of God, in all the people when he saies, I deny that all have the light of Christ in them, which is that of God they speak of, and appeal to in all. How filly is this, For had we all men before us to speak to? Or if the light of Christ was in all them, follows it, that it is in all the infants and Reprobates in the world? [...], when they appeal to that of God in all, they mean it, of the light [Page 32]of Christ (namely his spiritual light, which only I deny to be in all at all times) followes it that I must do so to; Is there nothing of God in men besides that spiritual light? Is not the soul, the understanding faculty, and the reason, of God? and is that the light of Christ, they speak of, as brought forth in some to be the Prince of peace? So his taxing, My laughing at them, as not ministring grace to the people, but stir­ring up folly and madnesse. What? coth not the laughing of the just to see their enemies defeated, as Psa. 52.6. minister grace to the hearers? might not my expressing my joy in the Lord, for his goodnesse in strengthning and helping me against such a Bravado, that brag of what they were and could do, provoke the people to seek to know the truth of, and trust in that God whom they see after solemn appeals to him, before them, and desire to manifest his truth, and stop the mouth of error, so to baffle him by his poor weak servant? Surely it might.

Whereas I said, and proved from Col, 2.10. with 3, 5, 8. That men com­pleat in Christ, may yet have sins in themselves to mortifie, he turns & perverts my saying shamefully, when he saies, The Apostle said not those that were in fornication and uncleannesse, &c. were compleat in Christ, for those that were compleat in Christ had put off all these]

Answ. Nor said I, those that are in fornication and uncleannesse are compleat in Christ. Is G. so simple as not to discerne a large diffe­rence, between sins being in men, and men being in those sins! as much as between mens having unclean humors, as of blood or excre­ments in them, and their being in uncleannesse by the issuing of them upon them, as was noted before. I said not men that are in those evils, but that have such evils in them to mortifie, may yet be compleat in Christ, and that the Scripture above quoted clearly proves, nor doth that hinder that G. W. alledges. viz. That those that are compleat in Christ have put off those things; for those that have put them off, are bid to put them off still, See else Col. 8.3. But now you also put off all these things, Anger, Wrath, &c. Seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds. They had put the old man off, and yet are bid to put them off, because they are not perfectly put off at once, so as no need of putting them off any more. So 1 Cor. 5.7. They that are said to be unleavened, are yet bid to purge out the old leaven. As a Wife in taking an Husband yeilds up her selfe to be his, and puts off her will, or power over her selfe, and yet needs dayly to be exercising herselfe therein to put off and deny her will. George saies, The mem­bers could not remain, where the body on which they were, were put off. Shall we believe Georges reason, or the Apostles saying? Sure tis George's ig­norance and error that he cannot apprehend (or else his worse minde, to deceive people that he will not own) the things of God. They seem foolishnesse to him, that a man may be compleat in Christ, and yet have sins in him to mortifie. And because he cannot comprehend them (and how should he, when he is so far out about the faith of the [Page 33]person of Christ and believes not in him, but in an internal prin­ciple only in himself and others?) he endeavours to render them foolishnesse to others also, and sticks not to oppose his sayings to the Apostles, and to invent glosses and shifts, as if the Apostles said not those things to the same persons, but to persons in different states. And whereas I replyed, did the Apostle write one Chapter, to one part of the poople, and another Chapter, to another part of them? He saies, I manifest my blindnesse, because the Epistle was not then divided into Chap­ters.

And he manifests his cavilling minde in so saying, For, what if the Epistle was not divided by him into Chapters, as I know it was not? there is the lesse colour for him to say, that those things in Chap. 2.10. according to our now division of it, were writ to people in one State, & those in Chap. 3.5, 8. writ to people of another. His own conceit would rather imply that the Apostle had so divided his Epistle into se­veral Chapters, to several Persons or states, than my asking him that question upon that blind shift of his.

Would George and the Quakers instead of divers states of divers Persons, consider or believe the divers and different respects or states of the same persons, they would avoid all this their error and confusion as to this point, and the controversy thereabout between us would cease. However, I propound it to the Reader, for thy usefulnesse, name­ly, That the same persons that believe, are considerable, as they are men and women, and have natural beings of Souls and Bodies, as spring­ing from Adam by propagation, and so they are sinful, mortal, sub­ject to many infirmities, and have members on earth to mortifie. And yet the same persons as they are, by the grace of God, begotten to know and believe in Christ, and are reckoned after him, have another state in him, which is not reckoned after Adam, and whatthey are in themselves; And so they are Saints, Holy, Spotlesse, compleat, & the Apostles some­times speaks of the same persons with reference to the one considerati­on, and sometimes with reference to the other, as men, to keep them lowly and little in their own eyes, and to provoke them to look more diligently to Christ, and abide in him, and as in Christ to encourage them against the discouragements from selfe and world, and to provoke them to thankfulnesse to God, and confidence in him, and to abide in him, where it is so well with them. So the Apostle speaks in diffe­rently of himself, Rom. 7.18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. And that one consideration too shews how both Solomon, in saying there is no man that sinneth not, and John in saying he that is born of God sinneth not, do both speak truly of the same persons with different respects. No man living, as he is a man from Adam, though a believer, but as so considered, hath sin, and sinneth; that is, doth that that is sinful, though its not imputed to him that believeth, because his mind being renewed, consents not to it, but strives (not for it, as these men say of us) but against it: and yet as born of God and according to the spi­rit [Page 34]or new man, the man that believeth and abideth in Christ, sins not, nor can sin, commit or consent to the sin that is and remaineth in his flesh and members, and is there to be put off yet and mortified by him.

He saies, Many saw the truth over me. Yes over me, as my defence and Protection, I believe they did, and error under my feet. But none that saw things rightly, could see truth with them, nor what they erroneonsly call truth, damping or confuting me, for then could I not have laughed (as he saies) or rejoiced over them. As for what peace they had in the truth, may be conjectured from their want of honesty and truth in all hitherto discovered, and I shall not need to grudge them their Peace, but wish them more truth, that their peace may be therein, and not in deceit. As for his coming alone into the Congre­gation, that may be; and yet it may be truly said, his friends came thi­ther with him, as the word with signifies a consent with him in their coming also, even as though Christ was buried alone, before the believers now living were born into the world, yet they may be said to be buried with him, as those, Col. 2.12. My discovery of his deceitful abuse of Psal. 103.1. he wisely passes over; I hope he is ashamed of it, that he neither at his coming then, or now, hath a word to justifie himselfe therein. That I would encourage those in power to persecute him, and to cause the outward man to suffer, followes not from my saying, that they (namely, those of them amongst us where he hath been proved a Deceiver) should do well, not to suffer him to speak his pretended words from the Lord, except he recant his errors, no more than our Saviour encouraged the Church of Thyatyra to persecute Jezebel in reproving the Angel thereof, for suffering her to teach, & to seduce the people. Rev. 2.20. and in such waies as he ought not to have suffered Jezebel to teach and seduce, in the like way persons in power hinder G. W. or any that are proved to be deceivers without persecution of their bodies, except that was persecution Christ appro­ved; no more doth it follow, that we are such, by our own confession, as have not the Seal of God upon our foreheads, because we say they (the Quakers) are a heavy judgement of God to us in this Nation, and are like the Locusts out of the bottomlesse Pit, for it is not said that the Locusts were a judgement or tryal, to none that had the Seal of God in their foreheads, but that they should not hurt them. And, I trow, the house of God is not hurt by the judgement of God that begins there, nor are we hurt by the Quakers; though they be troublesome, yet by occasion of that trouble, blessed be the Lord we have got good: they being made as means to provoke as to exercise our selves more to look to God, and by contending for his truth against them, to grow more clear and confident therein. As for his boasts of their borders in­larged. See what is said of the false Prophets; many shall follow their pernitious waies, 2 Pet. 2.2. All they in Asia turned away from Paul 2 Tim. 1.15. Thy were never the better for that, not the multitude [Page 35]of followers, but the truth of the Doctrine is to be regarded.

But above all, Reader, see and admire, that a man should be so infa­tuated or blinded with malice as this G. W. appears to be, in his ca­villing against the words of the Holy Ghost quoted by me, from Psal. 63 10. Which he repeats as my words thus. I. H. sayth, The King Christ shall rejoice in God, every one that sweareth by him shall glory, &c.

To which he saies, If every one that swears by Christ shall glory, then must the drunkards and Lyars and all such prophane persons as swear by him glory: And so this Doctrine, (mark this doctrine) which is the Doctrine of the Scrip­ture, and only quoted by me, & with an explication of the word swear too, according to the languag of the new Testament, for I said every one that sweareth or confesseth, which he wilfully [...]ed. This Doctrine (saies he,) tends to the encouraging of drunkards, and prophane persons in swearing, which is against the doctrine of Christ, which is against the Oathes and swearing which was under the Law, &c. What may we think of such a pittiful man as this, that shames not thus to revile the Scripture sayings? What, would he not have those words Printed or read? would he take away those Scriptures for fear the Prophane should abuse them? Nay, ought they not to be taken away, (as I have heard it said of some of them, that they reject the Bible, and say it's good for nothing, or fit to be burnt, or the like,) if the Doctrine contained in the Psalmes and Prophets tend to incourage drunkards and Prophane persons in their swearing, and be contrary to the Doctrine of Christ? If this be not a desperate deceiver, that durst thus revile and blasphene the very words of Scripture, and a man bitterly malitious, that the better to colour over his charge of me therein, witholds [...] my expli­cation of the word swearing, by the word confessing (as it's explicated in Rom. 14.11. and Philip. 2.11. with Isa. 45.23.) and so a man not to be listened to, but to be accounted accursed, I know not who is: I might also note his errors, in implying, the Disciples were taught by Christ to call God Father, as he is Creator, and not as born of God, and that some thing in the Disciples, but not the Disciples themselves called Father, but they praying, in that, received what forgiveness they asked, but it seems were not to aske that dayly as they did their bread, for when they received what they asked, then they had to more sin, nor need to pray for forgivenesse: And so he implies, that before they were born of God, or could by the Holy Ghost call Father, before the Birth was brought forth in them, they might pray for forgivenesse; as when our Saviour teacht them to call God Father, and yet to pray for forgivenesse. A deal of such confused Babylonish stuffe George is full of.

A gaine in asking, Why Christ should teach his to pray that his will may be perfectly done in Earth, as it is in Heaven, if it be not in this world to be done. He implies there is nothing to be prayed for, but what is here to be enjoyed in this world, and so would exclude the coming of Christ [Page 36]in glory, and his glorious Kingdome out of our Prayers, for that is in the world to come. But sure that world is neither in G. W's. Faith nor hope, and how should it be in his Prayers, nor is that the end with him of preaching and praying, seeing he implies that if it be not to be had in this world, It's against the end for which the Discples of Christ pray­ed as he taught them. His calling me, Scornful tempter and blind unbe­liever, for saying, if the Quakers have no sin in them, let them manifest it by living without bread. I passe as proceeding from his Gall, and tell him there is difference between Christs and other mens cases. He was made under infirmities for our sins sake, but if any of us have no sin, I know no reason why we should be infirme, nor find I any thing from Christ, that implies men shall need to pray for dayly bread longer than for forgivenesse of and keeping from sin; yea even then when the Di­sciples are come to that perfect charity, as to make their own forgive­nesse of others, a rule after which they desire God to forgive, yet they are willed yet to aske forgivenesse of God, and that is a state above G. W's. who is ever and anon at his bitter words, and reproaches, as the Reader of him may see.

His asking, How men may be kept from sin, if they may not be kept from it, according to me? Intimately charges a lye upon me, or discovers great ignorance and deceit in him. David was kept from his iniqni­tie, yet he calls it his iniquity, a man that hath sin in him may be kept from its getting dominion over him, as David implies, Psal. 19.12, 13. And from committing it, or consenting to it, as Paul was, when he saith, it was no more he that did it, but sin that dwelt in him. That Their roote is rottennesse though they be appointed as a judgement, is as understandable as that the Caldeans were wicked and unholy, and yet ordained for judgement of God; And as their being unholy hindre [...] not the holynesse of Gods Judgement, so neither doth the rottennes [...] of these mens roots at all reflect upon the soundnesse of Gods judge­ments, seeing he makes use of wicked men, whose roots are rottennesse, to be for his rods and judgements. Lastly, to his casting the lye upon me, in what I related of their uncivil and impudent posting me up, as going away to avoid them, because he saies, those words were not in it. I answer, what if those very expresse words were not in it? things may be couched in expressions, where the very same words are not expresly mentioned, as the Doctrine of the Resurrection of Christ shewed to be in Moses doctrine, though the word Resurrection is not expressed therein: their words in what they posted, were thus. This is to give notice that the said I. H. was lawfully called (which was false, for a call to break promise was not lawfull) by the Q. whom he so accused, so publickly to prove, if he could, what he so promised, and that he had sufficient notice, being three daies aforehand of the time, wherein we desired to meet him, (where­in also their falsehood and wikednesse appears. Their falshood, for I had notice but the day before they came, whereas I was to have no­tice two or three daies before that. Their wickednesse, in that it ap­pears, [Page 37]they would dave tyed me to have met them on the Saturday, which I knew must have been on purpose to spend me, that I might have been disabled from preaching the following day) But in stead of performing his promise (mind) against the Q. he the said I. H. went out of the Town, and so hath not performed his promise against the Qua. (which is false, for I did not promise to do it at their next coming, but expresly excepted against it, because of my fore-ingaged journy) neither can he. And a little after, they say, People hereby may discerne the diceit of these men, how having spread many rayling and false accusations against the Q. when they are tryed, have refused to meet us publikely. Now Reader, compare these shameful falsities, and see if they amount to lesse than an impudent suggestion, that I went out of Town, to re­fuse making good my charge; which that I have made good through the strength of God, both my former relation and this vindication of it clearly testify. What they note as lies in me, stand firme for truths, both as to my assertions, so far as asserted by me, without his altera­tions, and as to my charges of them, as is made manifest, and George and the Quakers are found clearly to be the Deceivers and Lyers, as in these following particulars amongst others, in saying or imply­ing.

1. That I have not proved my charge, but bragged of a victory where was none.

2. That they come as the Apostles, because they have confessed fins, though now they do not as they (the Apostles) did, when Apostles.

3. That they (the Quakers) have forsaken their sins, yet they are found in lies and bitternesse.

4. That the judgements of God are such (as his judgements) as the nature of the things or persons that be used by him as Judge­ments.

5. That David boasted of finlesnesse in him, where he calls iniqui­ty his.

6. That they that say the Saints have sin in them, plead for sin, and so they make the Apostles and Prophets pleaders for sin.

7. That the Apostles were without sin in this world, as Christ is, contrary to their own sayings in 1 John 1.8, 10. and 2.1, 2. Jam. 3.2.

8. That not whosoever believes Jesus to be the Christ, is born of God, for many, he saies, believe [...] that are not born of God; contrary to 1 John 5.1.

9. That the Apostles and Prophets when they confert sins, were not true believers, nor born of God.

10. Nor the Disciples when Christ taught them to call God Fa­ther, &c.

11. That some men living are so sinlesse in themselves, that if God should enter into judgement with them, yet they may be justified in Gods sight, contrary to Psal. 143.2.

12. That Asa's heart was perfect all his daies, but not all his life­time.

13. That persons of no judgement or right understanding, can affirme or deny nothing, contrary to Jer. 4.22.

14. That Christ's coming from Heaven spoken of 1 Thes. 4.15, 16, 17. is either often in diverse ages, or else over and past already.

15. That the Redemption of the body waited for, and groaned after by the Apostles and Saints, they had it in this life, before they deceased.

16. That the Saints waited not for things to be given them many hundred years after, contrary to Heb. 11.13, 39, 40.

17. That our looking for the coming of Christ from Heaven perso­nally and visibly, to raise the dead Saints that are bodily dead, is but our imagination, and a carnal looking for him.

18. That the coming of Christ mentioned, 1 Thes. 4.15. is but a revelation of Christ to the Saints, from glory to glory.

19. That men in whom sin is, are not, or cannot be, while such, com­pleat in Christ.

20. That to have sin in men, and to be in those sins, is all one.

21. That the 63. Psalm verse 11. tends to encourage Drunkards, and Prophane persons in swearing, which is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ.

These and such like be his intimations, as is before more fully shew­ed. The Lord deliver the Reader from such deceits, and make the fol­ly of these men yet more evident, that poor Souls may not be snared by them. I shall adde no more to G. W. but leave him to the Lords convincement and silencing: Who when he sets home his repro [...] to any of them, will do it to such purpose, as to stop their clamorous cavils, which they cease not to invent and raise up against us, though against our clearest confutations of them, because they be absurd and unreasonable men. The Lord exalt his Name and truth, to the rebuke and silence of their errors against him.