IN the first place, let it be Noted, that Francis Bugg in his Epistle Dedicatory to Sir H. N. (in his late Book, falsly Stiled, New Rome Ʋnmask'd, and her Foundation shaken,) doth thus Apologize, viz. I have adventured to spend some Leisurable Hours to set forth to the World some Reasons, why it is no Apostacy from the Christian Faith to separate from the Quakers: Be pleased therefore, that under your Name and Patronage, they may appear as a Covert to vail their Imperfections, for defective they must needs be in many respects; first, for that I am not indued with that Spirit the Apostles had. Pray Observe here his Reasons against the Quakers, (so called,) must needs be very lame and defective indeed in many respects, because they proceed not from the Spirit of Christ, being that very Spirit the Holy Apostles, and all true Christians, had and have, according to their se­veral measures and degrees thereof; but it ap­pears, F. B. is not indued therewith, but with another (a contrary) Spirit, from whence all his lame defective Reasons, and bitter Reproach­es against us proceed; whence we may Argue, 1. He that has not the Spirit of Christ, is none of his, Rom. 8.9. but F. B. has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not indued with it, therefore he is none of Christ's, consequently no true Christian. 2. He that for some time was (in measure) in­dued with the Spirit of Christ, and afterwards so [...] he forfeits and loses such his Induement, or [...] therein, he is an Apostate from Christ and [...] Spirit; but, F. B. was for some time so ind [...] with the Spirit of Christ, and afterward hath backslidden, and turned from the same Spirit, pa [...] therefore he is an Apostate from Christ and [...] Spirit. I suppose the First Proposition, no [...] ­tional Christian Man will deny; the Second [...] Commendations, of the People called Quak [...] their Doctrin and Ministry, As a dispensation of [...] love of God sent as a visitation to Mankind, [...] Christian Society, Love unfeigned, and blessed E [...] as in the beginning, and for many Years, &c. w [...] accordingly he has highly commended, both [...] fore and since his Conformity, in his Two Bo [...] one Entitled, De Christiana Libertate, Ch. 1. [...] 2. Printed Anno 1682. The other, The Qui [...] ­detected, p. 3. Printed 1686. about Two Y [...] after his Conformity to the Church of Engl [...] so that he must needs have been indued with [...] Spirit of Christ, whilst he felt his Blessing [...] Presence among us; but now he has lost tha [...] duement, he is not now indued with the Spir [...] Christ, which the Apostles had, but since t [...] a bitter Enemy to us, and Railer in Print age [...] us, therefore he is an Apostate, not only [...] the People called Quakers, but from Christ [...] his Spirit. He proceeds in his Apology, [...] [...] [Page 2] sufficient to grapple with such Scholars as are some be Chieftains of the Quakers. Answ. However [...]1 F. B. art so plentifully accomplish'd with [...]y and Scorn, and so puft up with Pride and [...]tempt against us, that thou knowest how to [...], Scoff, Flout, Disdain, Detract, and Per­ [...]; such Rhetorick thy Bottle and Bundle is [...]lenish'd withal. But 'twere far more reputa­ [...] for thee to study to be Quiet, and mind thy [...] Business, than to busie thy self in Defaming [...] Reproaching others.

Thou hast accused us with a Crooked Creed, [...]ch thou callest the Qu [...]kers Creed, (made up of [...] Articles, or Six Creeds rather,) which thou [...]derest contrary to what's either Apostolical, or [...]istian, chiefly concerning Jesus Christ, and the [...] Scriptures, falsly insinuating our denial there­ [...] as in thy Epistle to the Bereans, ch 3. p. 16. [...] I must tell thee, 'ti such a Creed as I never [...] before, to be termed a Creed; 'tis a Creed [...] thy own modelling, of thy own forming as [...]reed, of thy own construing, and of thy own [...]demning also, as Anti-Apostolical, Anti-Chri­ [...]n, Blasphemous, and what not, &c. Thy [...] and chief Charge of our not owning Him that [...] Born of the Virgin Mary to be Christ; or, that [...] Quakers cannot call HIM Christ; and far­ [...]r, that the Quakers deny the same Christ Jesus, ch. [...] [all which being Notorious Falshoods,] thou [...] deduced from Three Articles, or Creeds, [...]u hast formed, as the Quaker's out of Isaac [...]nington's Questions to the Professors; so thou art [...]ome such a Learned Creed-maker, that thou [...]st make Questions, Creeds, or turn particu­ [...] Questions into a general Creed, and then [...]ke thy false Construction, and thereupon Cry [...], Oh! Horrible Blasphemy. And therefore the [...]trary sense of every Article alledged against [...] Quakers, may be rationally and justly invert­ [...] upon thee as thy Sense and Creed.

1. In the First Article, or Creed, thou Ob­ [...]est, and wouldst impose on the Quakers, that [...] Scriptures do expresly distinguish between CHRIST and the BODY in which he came, be­ [...]een the SƲBSTANCE which was Vailed, and [...] VAIL, &c. Lo I come, a Body hast thou pre­ [...]red me: There is plainly HE, and the BODY which he came; there was the outward Vessel, [...] the inward Life, &c. This being by F. B. [...]demned as contrary to the Testimony of the [...]rious Angels, the holy Apostles, blessed [...]rtyrs and true Confessors, for above these [...] Christ for whom the Body was prepared; 'twas not Christ that came in the Flesh or Body; there's no such distinction in Scripture as between Christ and the Body, the Vail and the Substance, the outward Vessel and the INWARD LIFE. Then, behold! this Creed-maker's Creed, how con­trary to plain Scripture-phrase and distinction it is, viz. The Body of Jesus, Mat. 27.58. Christ come in the Flesh, 1 Joh. 4.2, 3. who calls his Body this Temple, Joh. 2.19, 21. and the Apo­stle calls his Flesh the Vail, Heb. 10.20. Lo, I come, a Body hast thou prepared me, Psal. 40.7. Heb. 10. Was not this I and Me Christ the Son of God? And how plain is the distinction? And Dr. Barns himself (even as F. B. cites him, p. 19.) has the same distinction in his Creed or Belief, That Jesus Christ who was conceived by the Holy Ghost TOOK Flesh o [...] the blessed Virgin Mary. Very true; who took Flesh of the Virgin? 'Twas Jesus Christ; therefore, Jesus Christ was before. Yet we'll readily grant that though the Names Jesus and Christ chiefly and in the first place belong to him that took the Body or Flesh (as J. P. explains his meaning) yet the Names Jesus and Christ were given to both his Body and Soul joyntly and seve­rally in a Synecdochical way of speaking.

It was Christ that dyed; but how? As con­cerning the Flesh, 1 Pet. 3.18. For his Divine Life never dyed; nor did the Soul of the Messiah ever die. But to which chiefly and primarily were the Names Jesus and Christ given? 1. If to the Body or Flesh he took, then the Body was a­bove and more excellent than his Soul, and the Flesh above the Spirit. 2. And if so then the Son of God either was not, or was not Christ be­fore he took the Body. Oh! horrible Ignorance. How now F. B.! Why did not thy Minister stop thee from running into such Socinianism? Whi­ther art thou run in thy Opposition and Creed­making; to render the Quakers horrible Blas­phemers? As to J. P.'s words chiefly objected, That we cannot call the Bodily Garment, Christ. The word Garment I take to be only a figurative manner of speaking, as the word, Vail which is his Flesh is, Heb. 10.20. An Ingenious Man would allow him his own meaning as he explains it; namely, That we cannot call the Body (which he took upon him) chiefly and in the first place Jesus Christ. It not being first, nor the intire Christ, because he was the Son of God, and consequently Christ, before he took upon him that Body, even when God created all things by Jesus Christ, [...]

[Page 3] 2. A Question, Creed 2. ‘If any have felt the saving Arm of the Lord, a measure of the same Life, Power and Anointing revealed in us and in our Vessels as was in his; Is it not of the same Nature, &c. Is not Christ the Seed? If this Seed grow up in me, is not Christ then formed in me? If I be ingrafted into and grow in it, am not I ingrafted into Christ? Is not this the same Christ that took upon him a Body of Flesh, and offered it without the Gates of Jerusalem? [To all which we say Yea] Is there any more Christ's than one? Or is there any other than he? Is Christ divided? Is there one Christ within, another without?’ [To all which we say Nay.] Our Adversary con­cluding his Remark hereupon, That if the same Christ that offered up that Body be IN them, as they say, even the very same that suffered Death at Jeru­salem; then he cries out, Oh! horrible Blasphemy. Pray then observe this Opposer's contrary Creed, e converso. 1. That a measure of the same Life, Power and Anointing revealed in us, as was in Christ, is not of the same Nature [what pure Nonsense is this?] 2. That Christ is not the Seed; or, that Christ is not formed in them that are ingrafted into him and grow up in him 3. That this Seed, Christ, into which true Be­lievers are ingrafted, is not the same Christ that took on him the Body of Flesh, and offer'd it with­out the Gates of Jerusalem [Oh horrible Igno­rance! the Seed Christ is but one and the same indivisible Christ.] 4. That there's more Christ's than one, there's one without, another within; another than him that took the Body that suffered at Jerusalem, or that Christ is divided: [Oh horrible Antichristianism!] thus to oppose and deny Christ within, the Word of Faith ingrafted, and consequently Christ's coming in Spirit, as not the same Christ that came and suffered in the Flesh, contrary to the express Testimonies of the holy Prophets and Apostles, and of Christ him­self, which are for the one Seed, the one Lord Je­sus Christ, as both in the Flesh and in the Spirit; the word of Faith, the ingrafted word who is not divided; even the same Christ that suffered in the Flesh, being spiritually in true Believers; read Joh. 17.23, 26. I in them, and they in me, &c. Whence I argue, If it was the same Jesus Christ that offered up the Body that said these words, I in them and they in me, then the same Jesus Christ is in true Believers: But it was the same Jesus Christ, &c.

Creed 3. ‘To whom do the Names and Ti­ [...] [...] and in the first place belong? Do they belong to the [...] which was took by him, or to him who took [...] Body, &c. [They belong chiefly and in the [...] place to him, the Son of God, who took [...] Body in J. P.'s Sense.]’ But this Creed ma [...] F. B. objects, viz. That the natural consequence of [...] is, 1. That the Names Jesus and Christ do no [...] properly belong to the Body as to the Treas [...] in the Body, That here they separate that which [...] hath for ever joyned together. [False, by the [...] we may distinguish where we do not separat [...] Then do but turn these Questions cited into F. [...] contrary sense (in opposition to that of J. P. and 'tis this, viz. That the Names and Titles JESƲS and CHRIST do not CHIEF [...]Y and in [...] FIRST PLACE belong to him (i. e. the So [...] God) who took the Body but chiefly and in the [...] place to the Body which he took upon him, which [...] prepared for him. Behold this Creed-mak [...] Creed! How Unchristian in it self, and A [...] christian in its natural consequence, suppo [...] Jesus Christ the Son of God was not in being [...] ­fore his Incarnation. Oh horrible Antichr [...] ­anism! against which I propose these Ar [...] ­ments.

1. If Jesus Christ was before he took the [...] or Flesh, then the Names Jesus and Christ, [...] chiefly and in the first place belong to Him that t [...] the Body; but Jesus Christ was before he [...] the Body; therefore, &c. The first Prop [...] ­tion is unquestionable; for the second I far [...] argue.

2. If the Son of God was before he took [...] Body, then Jesus Christ was before he took [...] Body; but the Son of God was before he took [...] Body; therefore, Jesus Christ was before he [...] the Body (or came in the Flesh.) The first par [...] not to be doubted, That the Son of God was [...] Anointed of God, the Christ of God, the Savi [...] the second Part, is evident that the Son of [...] was before he took the Body, because God n [...] the Worlds by his Son, Heb. 1.2.

3. If God created all things by Jesus Ch [...] then Jesus Christ was before he took the Bo [...] but God created all things by Jesus Chr [...] therefore, &c. See Eph [...]s. [...].9.

4. If that Spiritual Rock which all Israel di [...] of was Christ, then Christ was before he took Body; but that Spiritual Rock which all [...] drank of was Christ, 1 Cor. 10.4. And [...] esteemed the Reproaches of Christ gre [...] Riches than the Treasures of Aegypt, Heb. 11. [...] Therefore Christ was in M [...]ses's days.

Christ was before Abraham was, Jo. 8.58. His g [...] [Page 4] [...] have been from of old, from everlasting, Mica 5.2. [...] also Heb. 7.3. Therefore Christ was before [...] took Flesh, or was born of the Virgin Mary: [...] general Consequence deducible from [...] Premises is, That the Names Jesus and Christ [...]esty and primarily belong to him that took the [...]dy, though sometimes given to each, and to [...]th.

The Creed-maker further objects, viz. They [...], That his Body was of an Earthly perishing Na­ [...]e. But what are they that so say? He hath [...]e notoriously wronged the People called Qua­ [...]s, by imposing a false Creed upon them.

Where do they say, That Christ's B [...]dy either [...]s or is of an earthly perishing Nature? I utterly [...]ny the Charge, and F. B. also to be our Creed­ [...]ker, Construer or Expositor, who hath un­ [...]tly infer'd this upon us from Is. Pennington's [...]ing, He took upon him the Flesh and Blood of our [...]ture, which is of an earthly perishing Nature. [...]hereby neither he nor the People called Qua­ [...]s say, That Christ's Body either was or is of [...] earthly perishing Nature; for his Flesh saw no [...]rruption, therefore did not perish; tho [...] our [...]ture, our Flesh and Blood be of an earthly pe­ [...]ing Nature, so is not Christ's. I cannot ra­ [...]nally suppose that J. P. ever intended that [...]rist's Body (which on Earth did not corrupt) [...] of an earthly perishing Nature now in Hea­ [...] as ours is now on Earth; (take his Words al­ [...] Grammatically) for it is such an absurdity as I [...] not think ever entred into If. Pennington's [...]art, being a Man both of Learning, Sense and [...]nscience; [The Flesh and Blood of our Nature] [...]ng antecedent next to [which is of an earthly [...]shing Nature.] Therefore [perishing] appears [...]ly Relative to Flesh and Blood, as 'tis our's and [...]us, and not to Christ's Body which is incor­ [...]tible.

Object. Doth not the Name belong to the whole [...]y, &c. So that there are as many Christ's by their [...]ctrin, as believing Quakers. Oh! horrible Bla­ [...]emy.

Answ. No, that's not our Doctrin; there's one [...]dy, and so but one Christ, 1 Cor. 12.12. But [...]n the Question into F. B.'s contrary Doctrin [...]lyed, and then 'tis The Name Christ belongs not [...]be whole Body, Christ's Body (i. e. his Church) [...]ot Anoynted; it therefore hath no right to his Name [...] any Member thereof; but then doth not this [...]ear contrary to the Apostle's Doctrin, viz. [...] as the Body is one and hath many Members, and all [...] Members of the Body, which is one, though they [...]many, yet are but one Body; even so is Christ, 1 Cor. 12.12. The Protestant Annotations in Queen Elizabeth's Bible are, ‘ That we might be one Body with Christ, and the whole Church one Christ.’ And on Ephes. 1.23. The Church is also called Christ, 1 Cor. 12.12. (What says our Adver­sary to these Annotations? Dare he judge them horrid Blasphemy?) And he that establisheth us with you in Christ Jesus, and hath [...], Anointed us, is God. 2 Cor. 1.21.

Quest But doth not the Name belong to the whole Body (and every Member therein) as well as to the Head?

Answ. 1. Not Equally, because he is the Head. 2. Nor Literally to be so named, but vertually and spiritually, and so truly, with respect to that divine Power and Spirit, whereby both the Head and the Body are Anointed; and each Member partakes thereof in some measure. But Christ, the Head in all things, has the Preheminence, he was Anointed (more eminently) in Fulness, his Members in part or measure by the same Spirit and Power; he was Anointed above his Fellows, implying their being anointed in degree. [...], Christ, signifies Anointed, as being the very Christ, the only begotten Son of God, which I know no Member of his Body assumes to himself; but [...], Christian, which has relation to Christ the Anointed; for where Christ's Church, which is his Body, is said to be the Fulness of him that filleth all in all, Ephes. 1.23. 'Tis not of the Church as distinctly considered from the Head; but Christ the Head is included in that Fulness, tho' his own proper Existence be entire, com­pleat and most glorious.

Creed 4. A word to all you Deceivers, &c. I can­not apprehend how he can make the Quaker's Creed of this, supposing the whole Passage, un­less every particular Reproof must be taken for a general Creed, and then Argumentum ad Homi­nem; may not this Creed-maker's calling the Quakers and their Ministers, ( New Rome, Painted Harlot, Apostates, Deceivers, False Christ's, Great Impostors, Deluded Souls, Black-guard of Lyars, a Tribe of Wretches, a Pack of Hypocrites, the greatest Cheats, &c.) be esteemed Francis Bugg's and his Minister's Creed? But I dare say, many of the Church of England, would not like such a Creed to be formed and forged upon them from F. B.'s Railery, and indecent Treatment of the Qua­kers.

As to his Charge on G. F. &c. of the Letter be­ing Dust, Death, Carnal, Killing, the Husk, &c. Cr. 4. & 6. & p. 78. I must refer the Ingeni­ous Reader to G. F.'s own Explication in this [Page 5]very Matter; where he intends by Letter, not the Doctrin contained; thus distinguishing it in his Great Mystery, fol. 78, viz. ‘ The Letter, Paper and Ink; that the Letters are Carnal, but the Scri­pture, the thing it speaks of is Spiritual, the Word is Spirit.’ (Thus G. F.) His distinction ap­pears between the Letter and the Spirit, as be­tween the Shadow and Substance, and to be partly grounded on Heb. 9.10. Rom. 2.29. & 2 Cor. 3.6. and partly relating to the Nature of what he in­tends by Letter abstractly, as in Paper and Ink which will decay; and is not the Kernel, the Seed, the Life or Spirit which will never decay; neither do we ascribe Holiness to the Paper and Ink, or dead Characters, but to the holy Doctrin and blessed Precepts contain'd, which therefore are called The Holy Scriptures, which we never did say are either Carnal, Death or Killing, but spiritual living and permanent. The Holy Scriptures, 2 Tim. 3.15, 16. being put for the Holy Do­ctrin therein contain'd, is a Metonymical Phrase. Yet we are truly thankful to God for preserving to us the outward Writings, Scriptures or Books commonly called the Bible.

Creed 5. ‘The Light, Christ, by whom all things were made and created, glorified with the Father before the World began, and which the Scripture testifies of, IS ABOVE the Scri­pture, and before the Scripture was, &c. And this Christ is the same yesterday, to day, and forever, whom the Saints came to witness WITHIN them, not another Christ nor many Christ's, &c. G. F.'s Great Myst. p. 254.’

Against which F. B. objects, viz. According to their Creed last recited, the same Christ by which all things were made and created in IN THEM, which If true, then that proves sufficiently what Eccles. says, viz. That the World was made by him [which F. B. injuriously construes S. E. (upon the Quaker's Creed) to say of G. F. Oh! horrible and blasphe­mous Slander against us, and expresly contrary to G. F.'s own Testimony for Christ before-cited.]

But invert the said opposed Creed on our Op­poser, to his contrary sense, and then it will run thus, viz. 1. That Christ the Son of God, by whom all things were made and of whom the Scripture testi­fies, is NOT above the Scripture, nor before the Scri­pture was. (Is not this Socinianism, and a Deny­al of Christ's Divinity?) 2. That the Saints came NOT to witness this Christ within them (which is to deny their Christian Faith of Christ within, 2 Cor. 13.5.) Oh! what horrible Antichristianism and sad Apostacy is the Man run into, thus to [...] out of himself and the Saints too; contrary to Christ's own (an his Apostle's) Testimony. Read Joh. 17.23, 2 [...] 2 Cor. 13.5.

Creed 6. ‘All Teaching which is given for [...] by Jesus Christ, is to bring up the Hearers [...] Perfection, even to the Measure, Stature and Fulness of Christ, &c.’ On which he REMARKS, viz. Come and see once more this dar [...] dismal, antichristian and uncharitable Creed of the [...] deluded Souls, &c. They, like the Pharisees, hold SINLESS PERFECTION, &c.

Answ. Come and see once more what F. [...] holds, e converso, to the contrary, viz. That [...] Teaching (or Ministry) given by Jesus Christ, is [...] to bring up the Hearers to Perfection, that is, Sinles [...] tho' it was to present them perfect in Christ, a [...] that all might come in the Ʋnity of the Faith, and [...] the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect Ma [...] and unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness [...] Christ, as the Apostle expresly declares, Ephes. [...] Oh! what sad and dismal darkness of Apostacy, [...] the Man fallen into? Contrary both to Chri [...] and his Apostle's express Testimony. Read Jo [...] 17.21, 22, 23, 34. &c. Ephes. 4.11, 12, 13.

In Creed 6. ibid. He that hath the same Spir [...] that raised up Jesus from the dead, is Equal w [...] God (which we do deny) quoting Saul's Erran [...] &c. p. 8. and also Great Myst [...]ry, p. 78, 127, 28 [...] where (quoth F. B.) their being equal with God [...] not denyed but strongly implyed.

Answ. We deny both to be any part of o [...] Creed. The first, as being some acciden [...] Mistake (in Saul's Errand) as 'tis really su [...] ­pos'd, being also contradicted by G. F. in his [...] ownng the Charge, and denying himself or a [...] other Creature to be equal with God his Creato [...] But testifies, the Son and Holy Ghost, to [...] equal in Power and Glory with God the Fathe [...] Great Mystery, p. 127. and p. 254. and Saul's [...] p. 5, 6, 8.

Let us take a view of some of F. B.'s 12 [...] ­rors charged on the Quakers Doctrin, on whi [...] (with his 6 fictitious Creeds) his 12 Chapte, [...] and much of his Book, are grounded.

1. Against G. P.'s Great Myst. p. 89. viz. T. [...] the Quakers have a Spirit given to them beyond all Fore-fathers (since the days of the Apostles) in Apostacy, &c.

[The very intent and meaning of G. F.'s wo [...] herein, was not beyond all the Fore-fathers, with [...] exception, but beyond all in the Apostacy.]. And further, And they can discern who are Saints, [...] who are Devils, and who are Apostates, without spe [...] ­ing ever a word. (But add further) They that be [Page 6]Power and Life of Truth (as G. F. there saith) [...] so discern between Saints and Devils, &c [...]d that's possible, as 'tis for humble Men to [...]ern wicked Persons, even by their proud and [...]y Looks, wanton and scornful Eyes, envious [...] fallen Countenances; the shew of whose [...]untenance testifying against them; and more [...]ecially by the Gift of discerning of Spirits, given [...] some in the Church of Christ, Apostates and [...]ked Spirits are discernable from Saints. The [...] part that a Spirit of Ʋnderstanding and Dis­ [...]ning was given, and among us beyond all such [...]e-fathers as were in the Apostacy, F. B. did long [...]ieve was no Error. But now if he'll have it [...]e, invert it upon him, and then it must be in [...] sense, 1. That 'tis an Error to profess a Spirit [...]en us (now adays) beyond all the Fore-fathers in [...] Apostacy. 2. That they that be in the Power and [...]e of Truth cannot discern between Saints and De­ [...], especially when silent. These being opposite [...]he Doctrins he deems Erroneous; by the first, has excluded himself (as well as others) from [...] Spirit of Christ, which is beyond all the Fore­ [...]hers in the Apostacy, and thereby he hath [...]luded Christ and his Spirit, which the true [...]ostles had; consequently he's endued with the [...]rit of Apostates, and in a great Apostacy, [...] only from the Christian Society of the People [...]ed Quakers, but also from Christ himself, his [...]rit, Light and Truth. By the second, he has [...]osed (and excluded himself from) the Saints [...]ht of discerning (by the Power and Life of [...]uth) between Saints and Devils.

His 11th Erroneous Principle charged on the [...]kers, chap. 1. out of Good Advice, p. 39. [...] That Edward VI. by Archbishop Cranmer, was [...]pelled to sign a Warrant to burn poor Joan of [...]nt, counted an Enthusiast, for which F. B. sadly [...]t on presumption) vilifies W. P. &c. p. 72, [...] and which he saith, He does not believe, but [...]ges it upon him G. W. and the rest as a Lye, until [...]prove it by a Protestant Author.

Answ. See Speed's Chronicle, p. 1103. how [...]arly it is proved, and how averse Edward VI. [...]s to signing the Warrant to burn Joan Butcher; [...] how Dr. Cranmer (his Godfather) Archbishop, [...]oured to induce him to set his Hand to the [...]rant of her Execution, and with what relu­ [...]ncy he did it, but not without Weeping: See [...] Boker's Chron. p. 311. Now, F. B. mayst [...]u not be horribly confounded and ashamed of [...] precipitant foolish rashness, in reviling and [...]ustly condemning us as Lyars in this Mat­ [...] [...] 12th supposed Error. ‘I affirm the true Church is in the true Faith, that is, in God; and we must either believe this AS the true Church believes, or else it were but both a Folly and Hypocrisie to profess our selves Mem­bers thereof.’

This he charges upon my self as one of the Quakers great Errors (wherein I did not make the Church the Foundation, but Example of our Belief;) whence it follows, inverting it to his contrary Principle [...]mplyed, that either the true Church is not in the true Faith, that is, in God, and therefore we must not believe as she believes; or else, that tho' the true Church be in the true Faith, [...]hat is, in God, we must not believe this as the true Church believes, or we must not be­lieve in God as the true Church believes; let him take which he pleases, seeing he opposes my Affirmation as erroneous; and then behold this blacksliding Adversary's Faith, and return upon him, Oh! horrible Apostacy from the Faith of the true Church.

If F. B. says, the aforesaid Inversions are not his meaning; then what did he oppose as Errone­ous, pray? Must not the contrary Sense of every thing he opposeth be taken for his Sense? Or did he wittingly and wilfully oppose Truth? It must be the one or t'other. Take which he pleases, and let him wind off the Dilemma if he can.

The most of the rest of his Articles that con­cern Doctrin, are answered in divers other Books; as in my late Answer to the Baptists at Depiford, and Enquiry into a late Pamphlet, stiled, Some of the Quakers Principles and Doctrins, &c. And in my Answer to Dr Ford's Preserva­tive against Quakerism. At present I wave and pass by many of his Personal Abuses, gross De­tractions, Raileries and Slanders, and unjust Comparisons between Ʋs and the Papists and Popes; and many of his foul Reproaches cast up­on the Servants of Christ, both living, and the dead in Christ, which the righteous God takes no­tice of.

Only, F. B. I may remind thee, That thy Stories against me, As an ill Instrument to set Man and Wife at variance, and in breaking a Match, p. 60. are both utterly false; and the Match, pretend­ed, was not of my breaking; as I can easily evince. As also thy Consequence, That G. W. has out-done the boldest Jesuits that ever thou read of. And even in thy Title Page, terming me a Chief Cardinal. In both whereof it appears, thou makst no Conscience of defaming and scandalizing me and others to [...] [Page 7]than 'twas to render thee an Informer; as also, in thy charging me with being a Deceiver of the People, p. 33, 34. On a Supposition from T. R.'s Account, that thou voluntarily paid thy Fine be­fore Distress, when 'twas after, according to thy Certificate, p. 34. But suppose his Account was a Mistake as to such Circumstance of time of payment, and I mistaken too in such Supposition, (hadst thou no better Character for him, than Lying Lawyer; nor for me, than Deceiver of the People?) Which I placed not on a necessity from God (as is falsly pretended) but on a Supposition, nor was it Matter of Doctrin; does it follow that I am, therefore, a Deceiver of the People? How does that appear, from the true state of the Case? And upon what Proposition and Argu­ment? I'll suppose one for thee. He that has been mistaken in a Supposition about a Circumstance of time, is a Deceiver of the People; but G. W. has been so mistaken; Ergo, and then I must deny the major or first Proposition; and can produce sufficient Exceptions to invalid the Argument.

I have not room here closely to pursue the Di­lemma upon thee, for thy temporizing Retraction and Excuse of thy being not [...]f the same Mind thou wast in in 1686. concerning us in the beginning; and that thou hadst then better Thoughts of us respect­ing our beginning, than now thou hast; and that by reason thereof thou wast in an Error, also granting thou wast mistaken in thy charitable Opinion of us, and in the greater Error, &c. p. 12, 13, 14. Which feigned Retraction (being in opposition to thy own plain declared Testimonies both before and since thy Conformity) will not excuse thee from Self-condemnation, nor from Sinning against Light and Conviction in thy temporizing Back­sliding.

And now, F. B. as concerning thy Proposal to G. W. &c. To prove what we have said, or retract what we cannot, of our Principles which we hold (and which thou chargest and rechargest on us as thou say'st) according to E Burrough's Proposition, than to let thee have a Months notice thereof, any four, six or ten of our ablest Captains; 'tis ablest Preachers [...] thy Epistle to Bereans, p. 12.) and that in Mild [...] hall too (as thou boastingly challengest) and t [...] wilt take the like number of MEN on thy side; [...] if we refuse this, then 'tis in thy purpose to trou [...] thy self no more after this manner, chap. 12. p. 7 [...] and chap. 1. p. 1, 2. and Postscript, p. 89. &p. [...]

Answ. This we look upon as a conceited, pro [...] Boasting (as well as unequal) Challenge on t [...] part, and therefore refuse it; and we are [...] bound to dance after thy Pipe; nor to run af [...] thee to Milden-hall to wait upon thee. Wheth [...] thou wilt keep to thy parpose, to trouble [...] self no more after this manner, or break thy P [...] ­mise; look thou to that, if thou think'st th [...] hast any Reputation to lose. We reject thy [...] ­ceited boasting Challenge, 1. Because it supp [...] ­seth [...]y self such a qualified Person as E [...] made his Propositions unto, which was for [...] Meeting of a few of the ablest Priests and Pro [...] ­sors, which thou attemptest no proof for [...] self being one of them; and thy own Self-c [...] ­ceit can be no proof thereof to us.

2. Nor that the number intended on thy [...] are of the ablest Priests and Professors; the [...] fore thy Challenge suits not thy instance.

Nor dost thou produce any Deputation from [...] Church, Bishops or Clergy of England, that th [...] will own and stand by thy Books against us, [...] intrust thee and thy number of Men to cont [...] ­vert Matters of Religion on their behalf; [...] Deputation might justly be expected thou shou [...] ­est have produced; considering how lofty, [...] sulting and extensive thy Challenge is; and [...] it tends to affect a People and their Professio [...] we having also many foul Abuses and Perversi [...] to charge against thy Books, and not at all [...] ­merous or doubtful of dealing with thee, &c. [...] a Christian way, if the Lord should require [...] (remembring how thou wilt accept G. W.'s th [...] Charges p. 31.) But we are not under thy [...] risdiction, Command or Summons, either as M [...] or Christians.