IN the beginning was all things created very good, in the wiſdom of God, and he took pleaſure in the works of his hands, and man was made Lord over them all, ſtanding in communion with the life in God; he had authority to govern the Creation in the wiſdom of God, untill the ſubtiltie of the Serpent overcame him, and prevailed over him, to turn his mind from the wiſdom and life of God, into the earth, to feed upon that which the Lord had forbidden, where he entred into the tranſgreſſion, and fell from the wiſdom and life from which he received power and authority to govern and rule, and ſo the curſe came over him, having loſt his innocency, being ſubject to the Serpents ſubtilty, which he yeilded himſelf unto, to be guided by, and ſo was driven out from his place of excellency into the earth, to eat his bread in ſorrow all the dayes of his life. He that can read this, let him; For that ſubtile Serpent which led into the tranſgreſſion, leadeth ſtill in the tranſgreſſion all that yeild themſelves to his enticements, and are taken Captives by him at his will, and ſo are led by him to oppoſe that in which Gods love is made manifeſt, to break his head, and to recover out of his ſnares: This being the great deſign of that roaring Lyon, to keep people in that which he hath led them into, and from that, which is to recover them from under his dominion; and this is that which was, and is an enemy to the righteous ſeed of God in all its appearances, through ages and generations unto this day, as is manifeſt in this generation of wicked and ungodly men, who in the envious ſpirit, ſets their faces to do miſchiefe, as Henoch Howet hath done, as his own words do manifeſt, who ſaith, he having had much to do with a generation of men that held forth another doctrine of converting, or another means of convincing of men in their naturall condition, then ever Chriſt or his Apoſtles did, and to prove this by Scripture light, as he calleth it, he names 2 Tim. 4.23. but here he is not in the light of the Scripture, (his own language) for there is not ſuch a verſe as he hath named; and ſo he is here ſhut up, and let his mouth be for ever ſtopped in his ignorance, and blindneſs, who is charging a generation of men with holding forth ſome ſtrange doctrine contrary to Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and hath no teſtimony to what he ſaith; and yet he tells us he is a labourer in a good Vineyard, and that he knowes the enemy now rageth more by deluſions, then by open perſecutions; theſe being the dayes (in which if it were poſſible) to deceive the very Elect.

Anſ. John ſaw many deceivers entred into the World in his time, which was thoſe that Chriſt Jeſus ſaid ſhould come to deceive the very Elect, if it were poſſible; and haſt thou been a profeſſor ſo many years, and haſt not ſeen them before theſe dayes? If thou hadſt not oppoſed that by which all deceivers are made manifeſt, and in which John ſaw them, thou mighteſt have ſeen them many years ago, and thy ſelf to be one of them, who ſpeakes a viſion of thy own brain, and not from the mouth of the Lord; and this is the doctrine which is contrary to Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and the enemy which now rageth both by deluſions, and open perſecution; for the ſpirit of deluſion never ceaſed from perſecution againſt all who bear forth a living teſtimony to the Goſpel and the power of it, but was alwayes an enemy to it, and laboured againſt it, as thou doſt, though thy labour be to no purpoſe.

Then thou ſayeſt, thou haſt taken it upon thee as thy duty to forewarn all men of that doctrine that teacheth men to look to the light within them for directions from their naturall condition all along, untill they come to that eſtate they call their perfection.

Anſ. It is manifeſt from thy own mouth, that thy work was not wrought in God, nor thy duty in obedience to his movings, but taken upon thee in thy own will, and performed in thy own wiſdom, which is contrary to all that are ſent of God, & labours in his Vineyard, who do not take upon them any thing in their own wills, and call it their duty, but waits on the Lord, to be obedient to his movings, to receive from him what is their duty to perform unto him; ſo the Lord gives forth his word, and it is declared in righteouſneſs; but that which thou haſt taken upon thee at thy own will and pleaſure is all denyed, not being received from the mouth of the Lord; for thou who denyes the light within, and art forewarning people for looking to it, thou denies the Scriptures, and the ſpirits teſtimony therein, and thereunto; for David bare forth his teſtimony in the ſpirit of the Lord, That the light of Chriſt enlightned the world, and in his light they ſaw light. John teſtified that Chriſt was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Chriſt ſaid he was the light of the world; and if this thou wilt owne, which thou ſayeſt thou art examining by, then ſhew who they are, and what ſort of people that Chriſt doth not enlighten, and whether he doth enlighten people within, or without them, and where is his light to be looked for, and walked in, and prove thy ſelf a labourer in Gods Vineyard; for all that were ſent of God, and laboured for him, exhorted all people unto the ends of the earth, to look unto Chriſt and be ſaved, and to turn from the darkneſs to the light; therefore repent and be converted, that thy ſins may be blotted out, thou who art in the Antichriſtian ſtate.

Then thou ſayeſt, thou wilt endeavor to ſhew what the enemy (which thou ſayeſt is the light within) drawes people to, which is, to take counſel at a corrupt heart; and ſaith, It is evident, if they look to that which they call the light within, two things being in communion, a diſobedient natural man, they are like to ſee nothing but ayrie notions, with ſpirituall working powers to delude within them.

Anſ. Haſt thou not made it evident, that the ſpirit of God liveth not in thee, and that thy body is not the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, who knows nothing within thee to take counſel at, but a corrupt heart? Haſt thou been ſo long looked at to be a teacher of others, and now brought to confeſs, that man hath nothing to look at within him but a corrupt heart? Haſt thou then miniſtered from any other principle, then from a corrupt heart? For ſhame give over deceiving people, and tell them plainly what it is thou takes counſell at, for ſome have ſeen thee, and withdrawn from thee, becauſe a corrupt heart is thy counſellor, which leads thee into all confuſion; for thou here talks of a diſobedient natural man, and that he cannot ſee himſelf otherwiſe, if he look to the light within, and yet thou talks of obedience to Chriſts commands and ordinances in another place; What is thy obedience performed in to Chriſts commands and ordinances, ſeeing thou ſayeſt that man is naturally diſobedient, and his heart corrupted, and nothing elſe to be looked at within him? Then hath not the Prince of the power of the Aire dominion over thee who ruleth in all the children of diſobedience? Conſider thy own words, and ſee if there be any thing in them beſides Airie notions.

Then thou ſayeſt, But if they will ſay, they have no communion with the Devill, or Prince of the Aire, then thou ſayeſt his deſign muſt needs be to bring them to conſultation in a heart that is deceitful and deſperately wicked; and being deceitful, it will offer darkneſs for light, and ſo unavoidably put them in danger of being deceived.

Anſ. Thou haſt unvailed thy ſelf to all the children of light, who reads thee, & ſees what thou art conſulting with, who denies the light and hates to be reformed by it, and deſpiſeſt the counſell of it, though it ſtand a faithful witneſs in thy conſcience to reprove thee of all thy ungodly deeds, which in the darkneſs is brought forth by thee, from thy wicked and deceitful heart which thou art conſulting with, being alienated from the life in God, thy fooliſh heart being blinded by the Prince of darkneſs, who hath dominion over thee; receive thy own words which thou haſt layd down, and then conſider what that is which makes the heart manifeſt, by which thou comes to ſee the heart to be corrupted, and the deſperate wickedneſs of it, and the danger of conſulting with it, and what it offers in that ſtate; ſubmit to that of God in thee, and own plainneſs of ſpeech, and thou canſt not deny but it is the light that makes all things manifeſt; for whatſoever doth make manifeſt, is light, Eph. 5.13. ſo the heart being within people, the light which makes it manifeſt is there alſo, and ſearcheth the heart thorow all the corruption & deceit of it; for all things are naked and bare before it; and this is ſo plain that all people may know that there is that in them which ſtands a witneſs againſt all the deceit of their own hearts, and never doth conſent to ſin, but reproveth for it in the conſcience of every man, which is the light that Chriſt Jeſus doth enlighten every man withall; therefore be not ſtiff-necked and rebellious, but turn to the Lord God of Life and Power, and wait in the light which he hath enlightened thee withall, that thou may come to the knowledge of the glory of God and to feel his living Power mortifying ſin in thee, and creating a clean heart within thee, before thou talk of obedience to Chriſts Commands, and the Apoſtles practice; for until thou obey the reproof of the light of Chriſt within, and turn at the reproof of it, to be guided by it, thou knoweſt not the firſt Principle of the pure Religion, though thou haſt made a profeſſion many years, nor haſt not ſet one foot into the way of Chriſt, though thou imagine a long travel in it, & that thou art come to the end of it. So ſome of thy folly is here fully anſwered in few words and plainneſs, therefore ſilence fleſh, and contend no longer againſt that in which the love of God is made manifeſt to ſinners; and this I am made to teſtifie in the power of the Lord for the ſeeds ſake; and he that can receive it, let him.

Then thou ſaiſt, If they would yet excuſe themſelves, and ſay they do not take counſel at their own heart, then thou ſaiſt it cannot be evaded; but if they look to the light within for counſel, they muſt needs look to their own ſouls.

Anſ. If thou wert not altogether in darkneſs, thou mighteſt here ſee thy confuſion, who art endeavouring to forewarn people, and knows not of what, neither can ſhew diſtinctly what it is, but ſaiſt, If it be not a corrupt heart, then it is a deceived heart; and if not a deceived heart, then it is their own ſoul: How blindly art thou led from all light and truth! for if thou wert guided by the light of Chriſt, thou mighteſt have ſhewed in what a corrupt heart, and a deceitful heart differs, (if any difference be) and what the ſoul is, and in what part of man it is placed; for if thou knoweſt not this, then art thou wholly ignorant of all that which thou haſt been charging a generation of men withall; and all thy imaginations is denied, and thy confuſion and ſtanders is returned again unto thee, as dung upon thy face.

Then thou ſaiſt, To look to the light within, leads men to look at a Judgment here in this life, and ſo takes off mans expectati • n from eternal Judgement; and this (thou ſaiſt) gives licence for luſt to rule, and is an invitation for the world to lye ſtill in wickedneſs, and for the Epicure to ſing a delightful ſong to his ſoul, Soul, take thine eaſe.

Anſ. The Saints witneſſed the Lord come near to judgement, and every tranſgreſſion and diſobedience to receive a juſt recompence of reward; Doth not the Scripture ſtand a witneſs againſt thee? Did not David witneſs the Judgements of the Lord to be true? and Moſes witneſſed all his ways to be judgement; and was not this known by them in this life, which brought them to fear the Lord, and to depart from evil, and to ſtand in awe, and not to ſin? And doth this deny eternal Judgement? or give liberty for luſt or wickedneſs to rule? Or brings it not thoſe to ceaſe from the evil, whom the righteous Judgements of God takes hold upon? Therefore wo be unto all the Epicures who put the Judgement of the Lord afar off, and ſit down at eaſe in the fleſh, and makes their belly their god, minding earthly things, devouring Gods Creation to ſatisfie a luſtful appetite, and ſo treaſuring up Wrath againſt the day of Wrath, and revelation of the righteous Judgement of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds, when the Workers of iniquity will not be known by him, but muſt all depart from him into the everlaſting fire, there to abide under the eternal Judgement: Therefore I ſay unto thee, Repent, and ſink down under the Judgement in this life, that all ſin and tranſgreſſion may be judged out of thy heart by the light and power of Chriſt, that eternal Judgement be not thy portion.

Then thou ſayeſt, That to look al the light within carries a deceived people for a ſelf-loving heart, and to an imagination of perfection, and that their mouths are full of curſing and bitterneſs, and proud; and that their tongues proves them perverſe.

Anſ. And here thou ſpeaks as if thou wert not to be controlled, but as if thy tongue were thy own, and there was no Lord to be over it: But that which thou ſlanders the truth with, is denyed, (that is to ſay) That any who are guided by Chriſt the Light of the World, do bring forth any of theſe things which thou falſly accuſes them of, but thou art ſeen and read in that which is eternal, to ſlander the truth with that which hath Dominion over thee; yet is the Truth pure, and all thy dirt cannot ſtain it, and all who live in it have a ſure defence and a refuge from this ſtormy tempeſt which the Devil hath raiſed up, even to ſhake the foundation of the righteous; but it is a Rock higher then all, and above all, which the righteous are ſet upon, and there ſtand in ſafety; therefore either prove thy words, that ſuch fruits are brought forth by thoſe who look to the light within, and are guided by it, or elſe own thy confuſion, and in it thy ſhame.

Then thou brings thy Reaſons why men are carryed headlong to theſe deluſions, and mixeth the Scripture with thy reaſon, ſaying, It is evident from the Apoſtles Doctrine to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 11.3. evidently ſhewing the cauſe to be Satans transforming himſelf into an Angel of Light, and ſayes, The word Transforming imports the carrying of himſelf through all forms as an angel or meſſenger of light.

Anſ. The Apoſtles Words I own, and they ſhall ſtand a Witneſs againſt thee who denies the light by which he was guided, and ſo art gathering his words into thy Reaſon, but cannot thereby come into the life; and ſo thou reſts in the form, (out of the power) where Satan is transforming himſelf, as from thy own words, who ſaith he carries himſelf through all forms, then how canſt thou exclude him from thine? Therefore I ſay unto thee, and all who abide in forms with thee, Come out from him, for I deny both him and thy forms, that ſo it is plain from thy own mouth, that thou reſts in that into which Satan can transform himſelf, having the likeneſs, but is not the ſubſtance; and theſe are his Miniſters who are thus transformed by his deceitful working, as Miniſters of Righteouſneſs, though they be falſe Apoſtles, deceitful Workers, transforming themſelves as the Apoſtles of Chriſt; if thou haſt an ear open, thou mayeſt hear if theſe be not they who are labouring to uphold viſible things, as thou haſt done in thy Book, crying, The Ordinances of Chriſt, the practiſe of the Apoſtles, theſe are to be walked in, and ſo the imitation is taken up, and the viſible thing is practiſed, as the Apoſtles of Chriſt, but the light, life, and power of God is denyed, in which they enjoyed the ſubſtance, which was ſweet to their taſte, who felt that the Lord was good; and this was not a thing viſible without them, but enjoyed within them, which was the Bread of Life, and Water of Life, into which Satan cannot transform himſelf; and this I own, and in my meaſure witneſs to be ordained of God from the beginning, who ſatisfieth the hungry with the fatneſs of his Houſe, and refreſheth the thirſty with the Rivers of his good pleaſure; and this thou art a ſtranger to, who denies Chriſt the light of the World, who is the Fountain where living Mercies are witneſſed: And ſo thou erres, not knowing the Scripture nor the power of God, though thou haſt made a long profeſſion of them, and can ſpeak much of them, as the Phariſees could do, and as the Devil can do; yet whileſt thou denies that by which they were given forth, they are as Weapons formed againſt thee.

The ſecond Reaſon (thou ſayeſt) is Natures darkneſs; for (thou ſayeſt) if the Epheſians were ſometimes darkneſs, then in that ſtate they had nothing but darkneſs [ſuppoſed Light] to look unto.

Anſ. All who are in the light, ſees thy darkneſs, vvho knows not Chriſt from Natures darkneſs, and calls him a ſuppoſed Light; for Chriſt was in the Epheſians in that ſtate of darkneſs, though by them unregarded, as he is by thee; Wherefore he ſaith, Awake thou that ſleepeſt, and ariſe from the dead, and Chriſt ſhall give thee light; by the reproof of the light were they awakened, and did ariſe from their dead ſtate of darkneſs, and were made light in the Lord. And here was ſomething to be looked unto beſides the da • kneſs, which reproved them in the darkneſs, as it doth thee and all the World, who refuſe to be guided by it, and rejects Gods viſitation; therefore thou art darkneſs, and abides in darkneſs, and knoweſt not whither thou goeſt, becauſe that darkneſs hath blinded thy mind.

Then thou ſayeſt, Having ſhewed what this deluſion is a means to draw people to, thou wilt now ſhew what it is a means to draw them from.

And this thy Wiſdom lays down in many particulars; ſaying, Firſt, it keeps us from ſeeking a City that hath foundations, the Doctrine of the Apostles & Prophets, and that theſe people have a Chriſt they account more ſpiritual then the Carpenters Son, and that they will not have that man to reign over them.

Anſ. The City is witneſſed, into which no unclean thing can enter, but muſt abide without amongſt the Dogs and Sorcerers; and the Doctrine of the Apoſtles and Prophets is owned and enjoyed, and Chriſt is received who is King of Saints; but all thy inventions and imaginations is denyed, who knows Chriſt no otherwiſe then as the Carpenters Son, and ſo would have him to reign; if this be thy Faith, then prove by plain Scripture that Jeſus Chriſt is the Carpenters Son, or that his Dominion is exerciſed in that nature, elſe own deluſion to be upon thee, and thy ſpirit to be a ſpirit of error.

Thou haſt made ſuch a mixture of thy own inventions with the Scriptures, that it is hard to draw the Wine from the Lees, for thou haſt altogether ſet Chriſt in oppoſition to the Light within, which the Saints never did; and yet thou ſayeſt, They that look to Chriſt, and are enlightened, their faces ſhall not be aſhamed: So here thou haſt confeſt none can be enlightened but ſuch who look to Chriſt, and thou haſt owned Chriſt to be the light which doth enlighten, therefore now it is laid upon thee, either to confeſs, or deny in plainneſs, Whether Chriſt doth enlighten people within, yea, or nay? if yea, then he is the light within which people are to look unto, and be ſaved, which thou art fore-warning people from as a dangerous deluſion. If nay, then it is laid upon thee to prove by plain Scripture where he is, how he doth enlighten, and how people may come to him, and receive him, and be baptized into him, and put him on, and be led by him; ſo the Work will be ſhort, and many Words needs not be multiplyed to manifeſt truth, for it ſtands not in word, but in power, though much thou haſt laid together in thy Book, as if truth did conſiſt or ſtand in many inventions; I am moved of the Lord to tell thee and all people, That the Lord is riſen to overturn all the inventions and imaginations of man, and all falſe wayes and worſhips, which are not in ſpirit and truth, and they ſhall fall and come to nought, though never ſo ſtrongly contended for; but that which is of God ſhall ſtand.

Thy other particulars I ſhall here lay down, as in thy Wiſdom thou haſt drawn them forth.

I ſhall here wait for thy Anſwer to be publiſhed, as to what is laid upon thee, for I have born my Teſtimony in the ſpirit of the Lord, againſt all that which thou ſayeſt the Light within leads people to; ſo in general I do deny that it leadeth any, or draws them from any one of theſe particulars which thou haſt laid down; for I am made to ſtand a Witneſs againſt thee in the power of the Lord, knowing that Chriſt Jeſus the Light of the World, who lighteth every one that cometh into the World, doth lead all that are guided by him, from all that which thou ſayeſt the Light within leads people to, and unto that which thou ſayeſt it draws people from, that ſo thou art calling the light darkneſs, and darkneſs light: And for what thou haſt ſaid in thy conſiderations upon Baxters Papers which thou ſaidſt was againſt the Quakers, thou haſt there conſidered nothing but what is carnal and viſible, ſaying your Water is in Fountains and Rivers viſible, and that the natural Tongue of the godly can ſhew the Way of Life to the natural ear and eye, and ſo to the underſtanding of the natural man; and much more ſuch like as this thou haſt conſidered of, which are all to periſh, as all other viſible things muſt; and ſo thy hope will periſh with them, who knows not a life above them; but thoſe whom thou haſt ſet thy ſelf againſt, knows their life to be in that which is eternal, and will abide for ever, and are made to deny all thy viſible and carnal things, as rudiments of the World; and this I have alſo obſerved in thy Conſiderations, Herod and Pilate made friends.

I am moved of the Lord to tell thee, That whoſoever watcheth in that Light which thou ſayeſt will be a vain watch, they ſhall be defended from the Enemies Power, for there doth the Lord preſerve his people, and keep them from the Heathens rage, though thou haſt bent thy bow, and ſhot thy Arrows at the upright in heart, they ſhall return again upon thee, for no harm ſhall come nigh the dwelling-place of the Saints of the moſt High; for who dwel in the Light are compaſſed about with mercies, and there are made to ſing ſongs of Deliverance; ſo thou art now to anſwer to what is laid upon thee, and expected from thee, that is, To confeſs, or deny plainly, Whether Chriſt doth enlighten people within, yea or nay? and to diſtinguiſh betwixt Chriſt and the light within; for until thou haſt done that, all thy Work is but confuſion; which if thou refuſe, let thy mouth be for ever ſtopped, as a mouth full of iniquity and perverſneſs.