THomas Hicks then and there affirmed, that the Light within was mans Spi­rit, which did convince them of Sin, and that God breathed it into Adam, and that it was in every man: And that they which did worship the Light within, were Idolaters and breakers of Gods Commandments; for said he, the Light within is not Christs, but mans Spirit; for whilst Christ was figured out [Page 2] in Types, he was not actually in being: and said, that the word by which God made the world, was not the Christ. This Affirmation I had given me in writing by his approbation, by another Baptist Teacher one J. W. at the same time, which afterwards in a short time I put in Print, in a Book called [The Cause of Causes declared] and never by him denyed, &c. His Affirmations consisting of many par­ticulars at that time of their Meeting, I only denyed this particular, (to wit) Whilst Christ was figured out in Types, he was not actually in being: And then I brought these sayings, noted in holy Scriptures, as a Reason why I did deny that particular: First, Christ saying, (to wit) Before Abraham was, I am. Secondly, John the Baptist witnessed, (to wit) he was in the world before me. Thirdly, Stephen's testimony, This is he that was in the Church in the Wilderness. Fourthly, the Apostle Paul saying, (to wit) They did all eat and drink of the Spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ, &c. These Scriptures I brought, to prove that Christ was in being, when he was figured out in Types; Joh. 8. 58. Acts 7. 38. 1 Cor. 10. 4. And then I concluded, saying, That their say­ings were true, but his was false. Then he said, that he would prove it: using many words of what he had taken notice of in James Naylors Book, [called Love to the Lost] by which he [Page 3] darkned the people by words he uttered with­out knowledge for a long time; and then said, that he had proved his Affirmation, &c. I then denyed it, and said, I should oppose it in Print; but was hindred hitherto by reason of my being persecuted and imprisoned. But now according to my promise I have committed it unto the Press, for the Truths sake, and the peoples information. I have divided his Affirmation into eight particulars, and shall through Gods assistance touch upon each briefly. And first, to the first Affirmation, (to wit) the Light within is mans Spirit, this I do deny for these reasons.

First, because the holy Scripture saith, the Spirit of man is the Candle of the Lord, Prov. 20. 27. Secondly, no holy Scripture saith, that the Light within is mans Spirit. Thirdly, it is written, that the wicked rebel against the Light, Job 24. 13. Mark, over mans Spirit man hath power, except he be like a City without Walls, or broken down, Prov. 25. 28. If so, then man cannot rebel against his own Spirit. It is writ­ten, Take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth, Mal. 2. 15. Mark, it cannot be properly said to a man that hath a wife, if he be unnatural to her, that he rebels against his wife, because she is his Inferiour. Even so to a man that deals treache­rously with his own Spirit: It cannot be pro­perly [Page 4] said, that he doth rebel against his Spirit. Therefore the Light that the wicked do rebel against, is not mans Spirit, but a holy thing that is above man in its excellency, or mans Spirit, because rebellion is a rising up against a Supe­riour in Authority, &c. Again, mans Spirit is the Candle of the Lord: Mark, a Candle singly considered is darkness, and but a receptible sub­ject to receive light, which when it hath recei­ved it, giveth of what it hath received, (to wit) Light. Again, the light which the Candle re­ceiveth may be put out, and yet the Candle re­main as before it was lighted. Even so the Spirit of the Lord by man may be put out or quenched, and yet mans Spirit remain in his body, and the Light too, as a Candle whose light is put out, &c. How often is the Candle of the wicked put out, Job 21. 17. By what is written it may appear, according to holy Scrip­tures, for of them we are to think above men, 1 Cor. 4. 6, &c. That the Light within is not made Spirit, but it is the Lord, as saith the Pro­phet David, the Lord is my light and my salvation, Psal. 27. 1. That was the true light which light­eth every man that cometh into the world, of which John bore witness, that was before him, John. 1. 10, 15. as David witnessed before, &c. By what is written it may appear, that Thomas Hicks hath spoken evil of the holy thing, Luk. 1. 35. and that he knoweth him not by his first par­ticular, &c.

I shall now touch upon his Second Parti­cular (to wit) that Mens spirit did convince them of sin. This I do deny: First, because no holy Scripture says so: Secondly, because the holy Scripture saith, that the Spirit (speak­ing of the Holy-ghost) shall convince the world of sin, that is, meaning wickedness. Thirdly, That the Law is Spiritual, by the Law cometh the knowledge of sin, and that the Law of God is light; And that all things when they are rebuked are manifested by the light, Eph. 5. 13. Prov. 6. 23. Psal. 19. 7. And that the Law of God is perfect, converting the Soul, making wise the simple, &c. Mark that which convinceth of sin and converteth the soul, &c. Must be of a Divine Nature, for there is nothing beneath, Gods Nature can convert a soul and make wise the simple, But this the in­spiration of the Almighty doth; Job. 32. 8, &c. It is that which giveth understanding for that is perfect, and it is in man as a Law to its work, convincing man and converting the souls of them that believe, &c. By what is writ­ten it may appear in his second particular, he knoweth not the second Adam who is a quick­ning Spirit, 1 Cor. 15. 45. From the spirit of man, &c. Much more might be said, but I will pass to his Third Particular (to wit) that God breathed it (to wit) mans spirit into Adam. This I do deny for this reason, no where the [Page 6] Scripture saith so. Secondly, The Scripture testifieth that the Spirit of man was by God given to man, and that man hath power over it, (as is before excepted) Eceles. 12. 7. Prov. 25. 28. Therefore mans Spirit cannot be that Spirit which God breathed into Adam by which man became a living soul, for these Reasons mans Spirit is mutable and may be defiled and imprisoned, &c. Captivated by mans submitting to the Devil, and treacherous dealing with it, Mal. 2. 14, &c. But man hath not power over the breath of God that God breathed into Adam, by which man became a living Soul, neither can the wicked one touch that (to wit) the Breath of God: By it were the Heavens made and all the Host of them, Psal. 37. 6. The breath of our No­strills the anointed Lord, Lam. 4. 20. by which man became a Living Soul, that is the true light which lighteth every man which com­eth into the World: Adam was a man, and his Spirit the candle, and he was lighted as it is implyed by holy Scriptures, for every man is lighted, &c. By what is written it may appear that mans Spirit was not breath­ed into Adam, but given of God to man, and that the breath that God breathed into Adam was another Spirit, &c. By what is written it may appear, that Thomas Hicks knoweth not that Spirit by which man became a li­ving [Page 7] Soul or the second Adam that's made a quickening Spirit, 1 Cor. 15. 45, &c. Fourth­ly, He saith it was in every man, in every man is mans spirit, or else mans body would be dead: But mans spirit is not the light with­in, as hath before been proved, and yet the light shineth in man, for it shineth in dark­ness and is through all, and the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall, 1 Cor. 12. 7. If it be hid it is hid in them that are lost, 2 Cor. 4. 3. Yea, in the midst of Idolators is the holy One, as be­fore hath been proved, Hos. 11. 8, &c. Fifth­ly, Thomas Hicks saith, That they that did worship the light within, were Idolaters and breakers of Gods Commandments. This I do deny for these Reasons, No holy Scripture saith so. Secondly, Those Gentiles that had not the Law in a Book, without them, did by nature the things contained in the Law, and then they knew God, whom no man can know, except he keepeth his Command­ments, saith John, He that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar, 1 Joh. 2. 4. Now Paul saith, the Gentiles knew God, Rom. 1. 21. because, saith he, That which may be known of God is ma­nifest in them, for God hath shewn it to them, Rom. 1. 19, &c. If so, then they did by na­ture the things contained in the Law, and at [Page 8] that time they were Disciples of the Lord: For the promise of the Manifestation of the Lord is onely to the Disciples, not to the world, Jo. 14. 21, &c. To this Thomas Hicks must confess, for the Scripture cannot be bro­ken, &c. Again, It is written that when they knew God they glorified him, not as God, neither were they thankful, neither did they like to retain God in their knowledg, but changed the truth for a lye, (to wit) for false gods and false worships, &c. And then they were Idolaters: But when they did things by nature contained in the Law, then they knew God and were no Idolaters, &c. By what is written it may appear, that they which wor­ship the light within, when they worshipped the light or divine nature were not Idolaters, &c. Sixthly, Thomas Hicks saith, that the light within is not Christ, but mans spirit. That the light within is not mans spirit before is proved. That Christ is the light, and that the light is come into the World Christ testifieth himself, John 3. 19. and many are witnesses that do be­lieve, for he that doth believe hath the Witness in himself, 1 John 5. 10. That the Son of God is come and hath given us, yea thousands of us understanding to know him, &c. And this is life eternal to know the Only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, John 17. 3. Glory be to God for ever, and for evermore, [Page 9] Amen. Seventhly, Thomas Hicks saith, That whilst Christ was figured out in Types, he was not actually in being. This I do deny, for this Reason. No holy Scripture saith so. Secondly, Christ saith, before Abraham was I am, and John saith, he was in the world before me, as before is proved. And David saith, Why do the Heathen rage, and the peo­ple imagine a vain thing, the Kings of the Earth set themselves, and the Rulers take Councel together against the Lord, and a­gainst his anointed, Psal. 2. 12. Again, he saith, the Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine ene­mies my footstool. Who is this that David in spirit calls Lord, if not Christ? Again, Peter speaking of Christ, saith, he went and preached unto the spirits in Prison, which sometime were disobedient in the dayes of Noah. Again, it is written, he is the head of the Church, and that all things are made by him: If so, by what is written it may appear, that Christ was before the World was, and was actual whilst he was figured out in Types, &c. Oh! Is not this man a great Lyar. Eighthly, Thomas Hicks saith, That the word by which God made the World, was not the Christ. This I do deny, for these Reasons; No holy Scri­pture saith so. Secondly, Because God made the Worlds by his Son, Heb. 1. 2. Again, It [Page 10] is written, by the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made, Psal. 33. 6. Again, his name is called the Word of God. Again, In the be­ginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; all things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made: In him was life, and the life was the light of men, &c. Mark then, the light of men was from the beginning the Word, by which God made the Worlds, &c. It is writ­ten, the Father, the Word, and the Holy-ghost, are One. Oh! The Ignorance of this man: he denyeth the light within to be Christ. A­gain, he denyeth Christ to be actually in being whilst he was figured out in Types. Again, doth he not deny the present being of Christ in the World, in denying the light within to be the Christ? Again, doth he not deny the e­verlasting being of Christ, in saying the Word by which God made the Worlds is not the Christ? Again, doth not he deny him that all the Prophets give their Testimony to? that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life, &c. Thou wandring Star Repent, or else for thee the midst of dark­ness is reserved for ever. Remember me, a Friend to thy soul hath warned thee, whom thou knowest to have been a great sufferer for bearing my Testimony against deceit, Robert West, &c. This following Question I do pro­pose, [Page 11] with the consequence that will follow, to the end that the Nations may be no longer de­ceived by the Antichristian Teachers.

Quest. If the life of Jesus Christ that light­eth every man that cometh into the World, was not the head of Gods Church and the sal­vation of it, but the flesh and blood that he per­took of; then whether from the beginning un­till the time that he took on him that flesh or vail, Heb. 10. 20. the Church of God had any head or salvation? Again, if that flesh or vail of Christ was the head of Gods Church and salvation of it, then when that was put to death, whether the Church had either head or salvati­on, &c. if the life of Jesus Christ was not the head and salvation of it? For Christ was put to death in the Flesh, but quickned in the Spirit, and raised again, and is ascended up into Hea­ven, where he was before, even the second A­dam that is made a quickning Spirit, that he might fill all things, and now is he as he was before, the searcher of all Hearts, 1 Chron. 28. 9. even Jesus that was dead and is alive, and behold he liveth for evermore, Revel. 2. 8. To him give all the Prophets Witnesse, That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is the Root of Jesse, and Off-spring of Da­vid, the bright and morning star, whose go­ings [Page 12] have been from everlasting, which now is the Ensign of the Gentiles that is lifted up. To him shall be the Gathering of the People, and his rest is glorious, as is written, Isa. 11. 10. To him be Glory for ever, and for evermore, Amen.

WE who in scorn are called Qua­kers, oft times are denyed to be reasoned with, except we will own the holy Scriptures to be the ground of faith and rule of life; for all such are these lines written to consider of. Do you own the Holy Scriptures to the ends whereunto they were writen? and to the ends where­unto the Lord appointed them to serve? We do, &c. If you do, let them be Witnesses between us, who are in scorn called Quakers, and you, touching the ground of Faith and rule of Life, &c. The holy Scriptures testifie, that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of the Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph and Moses, with so great a Cloud of Witnesses, as the Author to the He­brews Witnesseth, Heb. 11. 12 2. And as other Scriptures testifie to him, give all the Prophets Witnesse, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Now is there any holy Scripture saith, that Scripture is the [Page 18] ground of Faith; if so, bring that Scri­pture, ye Baptized people, or be silent for ever; for it is written, We are not to think of men above that which is writ­ten, and the Spirits of the Prophets, are Subject to the Prophets. What Scri­pture was the rule of the life of Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham? I know not of any Scripture that they had; It is imployed by holy Scripture, that they were lighted by the true light; for every man was lighted that came into the World, and that Abraham saw Christs Day, and that the light from on high did visit men to guide their feet in the way of peace: Was not that the rule of life, and guide of their youth, &c. The Jews said to Christ, that they were Moses his Disciples, and Christ said, there was one that did accuse them, e­ven Moses in whom you trust: So say I to you, that do say the Scripture is your gro [...]nd of Faith, and rule of Life. The holy Scripture testifieth against you: [Page 19] You say to a single person You [...] and call the Months and Days of the Week not as the holy men of old did: What rule have you in Scripture to say to a single person, You: and the Months of the Year and Days of the Week as you do? Do you not follow the Custom of the Heathen, of whom the Lord hath said, Learn not the way of the Heathen. It's written, When the Lord shall as­semble the Kingdoms, to pour upon them his Indignation, then he will return to the People a pure Language, that they may call upon the Name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent, said, Zeph. Chap. 3. verse 9.