nent; that this worthy man denied the authenticity or authority of Holy Scripture, as the compilers would have us to do, from their quotations, would be an act of great injustice to him. The whole tenor of his writings directly contradict such a conclusion. The following may be sufficient to show this. Thomas Winterton made the following charge against the Society, viz:

"That now, the scripture is no more a guide for us to walk by, nor nothing without them, but the light within them, and he that seeks after any other guide but that within him, is in the flesh still." To this R. Hubberthorn replies

"Which words are thy own, and was not so spoken, by any of us. But to thee I say, that the scripture, which did foresee that which we now do see, we own to be one with the light, which was before the letter, and to be our guide in the way of truth: and this guide is within us; but by the scripture letter, without thee, thou neither sees nor foresees the things which belong to eternal life, which, if ever any come to see, it must be by the light of Christ within them; and all who own this light, and with it is guided, cannot deny the scriptures which was spoken forth from the light within." Pages 76, 77.

This short quotation speaks a direct denial and condemnation to the dogmas of Elias Hicks. Since R. Hubberthorn says positively, that all who own and are guided by the Light of Christ, cannot deny the scriptures.

On page 117, after having answered a number of erroneous notions, advanced by John Stelham, and proved their unsoundness from scripture authority, Richard Hubberthorn adds, "In reading of this let all people take notice, that in the several and particular heads of John Stelham's book, where he saith he hath contradicted us, he is proved himself to contradict the scriptures; and so far as he contradicts the scriptures, in those particulars; so far, he may say he contradicts us; our testimony being one with the scriptures in those things."

If the reader will take the pains to refer to Richard Hubberthorn's works, he will find that "the several and particular heads of John Stelham's book," comprehend the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, in regard to which R. Hubberthorn says that the Quakers' testimony is one with the scriptures. So far, then, as Elias Hicks contradicts the scriptures, which he does in many of the primary and fundamental articles of the doctrine of Christ and his apostles, so far he contradicts the early Quakers, and proves that he has swerved from the ancient faith of the society.

In a discourse which R. Hubberthorn had with King Charles II. the latter asked him

"How did you first come to believe the scriptures were truth ?" R. H.-"I have believed the scriptures, from a child, to be a declaration of truth, when I had but a literal knowledge, natural education, and tradition; but now I know the scriptures to be true, by the manifestation and operation of the spirit of God, fulfilling them in me."-Page 271.

Is then the spirit of God changed? Or doth it teach now contra

ry to what it taught in the time of Richard Hubberthorn? Or, seeing God is unchangeable, and cannot lie; cannot deny what he has once asserted, is it not clearly evident, that those who plead the guidance of the spirit of truth, for their denial of the most solemn declarations of Holy Scripture, are under delusion and error, and are not led by that spirit of truth which guides into all truth?

We have a quotation from the same author, inserted on pages 52, 53, of their pamphlet, designed to convey the idea that the early Quakers denied the existence of any other heaven or hell, than what is in man; which, of course, the compilers must consider as one of the tenets of Elias Hicks. The quotation is as follows:

"And again, as concerning hell, Clapham "not in hell while they are upon earth.

[saith, that men are

"Answer. The prophet said, while he was upon earth, thou hast "redeemed my soul out of hell; and Jonah said, out of the belly of "hell, cried I unto thee, and so the believers' doctrine was contrary "to Clapham's; for they knew both heaven and hell, while they were upon earth, and a redeeming out of the one into the other, by Jesus "Christ."-Works, page 33.

*

The assertion of J. Clapham, and the reply of R. Hubberthorn, furnish no ground whatever, for supposing that the latter denied that heaven was a place of eternal rewards to the righteous, and hell a place where the impenitent sinner shall endure everlasting torment, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. The answer is no more than an assertion, that the Royal Psalmist, and the prophet Jonah, experienced a foretaste, while here on earth, of the terrors and woe of that interminable punishment prepared for the wicked hereafter. But this does not imply that there is no future state or place, where just retribution will be rendered to every man, according to his deeds. Richard Hubberthorn has sufficiently denied the construction which the compilers would put upon his words, in his reply to J. Clapham, who alleged the same false charge against him, viz:

"And whereas many other accusations are charged upon us falsely, for the name of Christ, by the priest; yet seeing Christ, the true Prophet, hath said it should be so, because they know not the Father, nor Him who hath enlightened every one that cometh into the world; therefore, can we bear all things, being manifest unto God, and to all men, to be witnesses of those things which he saith we deny.

"His accusations are these, that we deny the resurrection of the body, the last judgment, heaven and hell, are enemies to all the ordinances of Christ, are not true mortified persons, and our doctrine tendeth not to destroy sin; that we are the common sink of all heresies and enemies to civility and good manners.

"Answer-Our doctrine is the same as is testified of in the scripture of truth; and where it is received, remission of sins is received; it being the same that our example, the First Born amongst many brethren, the First Begotten from the dead, preached, which gospel we preach to every creature; which gospel is the power of God, and where it is received doth both destroy sin, and sanctify them throughout in body, soul, and spirit, and by it, is the members which are

upon the earth, mortified: for this is the power that raised up Jesus from the dead, and doth also quicken our mortal bodies, by his Spirit, that dwelleth in us, in which the scripture is witnessed, which was a treatise of those things which was known and surely believed amongst the saints; and which saith, they that are asleep in the dust of the earth, shall rise, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and contempt: and from the true foundation, witnessing these doctrines, which the apostles did not lay again the foundation of; repentance from dead works, and faith towards God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, and of the resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment, Heb. vi. 12, for we, having learned what it is to be baptized for the dead, deny such as say there is no resurrection of the dead; the first fruits of this resurrection is Christ, 1 Cor. xv. 22, of which they that are of Christ, are witnesses of these things, and they come to know each seed in the light, through the figures, and through the parables.”—Pages 39, 40.

He then proceeds to speak more at large, upon the subject of the resurrection, and in conclusion declares, that by the Spirit of the Lord, the Quakers have received the knowledge, and are made witnesses of those things which the prophets and apostles of Jesus Christ testified of in the scriptures, whatever envious opposers may say to the contrary. It is obvious from the above quotation, that Richard Hubberthorn was far from denying a day of eternal judgment, or that heaven and hell were places in which the righteous enjoyed everlasting rewards, and the wicked endless woe and misery; since, when he was charged with holding such sentiments, he declares it to be false, and asserts that the doctrine of the Quakers is the same as is testified of in the Holy Scriptures. It follows therefore, that whatever doctrines are not coincident with the testimony of Holy Scripture, are not those held by the primitive friends.

Among the numerous calumnies which George Keith heaped upon the Quakers, after he had apostatised from their christian principles, we find the very same, as the compilers would have us to infer from their extract from Richard Hubberthorn. George Keith says " They deny any other heaven or hell than what is within men, calling all other Mahometanism." To this, the authors of the Serious Examination reply

"This is also unfairly stated: For though both heaven and hell may in some sense and degree, be in men; that is, a degree of heaven or heavenly places, in the righteous, in Christ Jesus; and some degree of hell, terrors, tribulation and anguish in the wicked, even in this life: yet heaven [is] not wholly within one, nor hell wholly within the the other, in this life, but an earnest thereof; for heaven is both within and without, and so is hell; yet both are discovered within, before fully entered into; both the joy of the one, and unto many, the terrors of the other: And how can treacherous Judases, and envious apostates, escape the damnation thereof? "Tis certain that the children of the light and of the day, have no utter darkness, (where hell is,) within them, they being delivered out of the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of the dear Son of God."-Serious Examination, pages 71, 72.

CHAPTER XII.

Remarks upon the quotations from the works of WILLIAM DEWSBURY.

The compilers have inserted upon page 53 of their pamphlet, a short quotation, of about three lines, from the works of William Dewsbury, designed to convey the idea, that this worthy man, had a light esteem of the sacred volume. They have made the extract with great unfairness as will be seen from the following quotation. The part which they have selected, is enclosed in brackets as usual. "And this I declare to all the inhabitants in England, and all that dwell upon the earth, that God alone is the teacher of his people, and hath given to every one a measure of grace, which is the light that comes from Christ, that checks and reproves for sin, in the secrets of the heart and conscience; and all that wait in that light which comes from Christ, (which is the free grace of God,) for the power of Jesus Christ to destroy sin, and to guide them in obedience to the light, so shall they come to know the only true God, and Father of light in Christ Jesus, who is the way to him: [And this I witness to "all the sons of men, that the knowledge of eternal life, I came not "to, by the letter of the scripture, nor hearing men speak of the name "of God; I came to the true knowledge of the scripture, and the eternal rest, (they testify it in Christ,) by the inspiration of the spirit of Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who alone is found worthy to open the seals of the book; and I witness, none else can, for he alone opened the seals of the book in me, and sealed it up to my soul, by the testimony of his own spirit, according to his own promise, I will bind up the testimony, and seal the law amongst my disciples; and I will write my law in their hearts, and put my spirit in their inward parts, and they shall not depart from me; neither shall they need to teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, for all shall know me from the least of them to the greatest, for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more, and all my children shall be taught of me, saith the Lord God, and great shall be the peace of my children; and this here declared, the scriptures witness, and I witness the scriptures fulfilled in me; praises, praises, hallelujah and eternal praises, be unto the Lord God Almighty, who hath taken unto thee thy great power to sit upon thy throne, and to the LAMB forever more."-pages 54, 55.

The extract made by the compilers closes at a semicolon, where William Dewsbury is declaring that he came to the true knowledge of the scriptures, and the eternal rest, which the scriptures testify

of, by the inspiration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. There is sufficient in the paragraph we have quoted, to show, how far he was from undervaluing the sacred volume; but the following declaration is so very forcible, and applies with such precision to the present subject, that we think proper to insert it. It is taken from an essay, entitled "Christ Exalted, &c. ;" in which William Dewsbury refuted a number of false accusations, preferred against the Quakers by John Timson, and also answers several questions, among which is the following:

"Whether any other revelations and observations, not to be found in the scripture, be binding to the consciences of those persons, that have the benefit of the scripture; or whether such revelation, or dictates within a man's heart and soul, be as binding to the conscience, and to be urged to a man's self, or others, as the scriptures are?

Answer, THE REVELATIONS OF JESUS CHRIST, IS ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, which revelation binds up the testimony, and seals the law, in the hearts of his disciples; and what dictates, is in the conscience or heart of man, contrary to the law and testimony, is not to be regarded, but disowned and judged, with the Light which comes from Christ, the Saints' Life, who guides them in a pure life and holy conversation, ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE-Isaiah viii. 20.” -Works, pages 148, 149.

This query and answer is a most triumphant refutation of all the pretensions of Elias Hicks and his friends, to coincidence in doctrine with the early Quakers. William Dewsbury declares that the revelations of Jesus Christ are according to scripture-it follows that what is not according to scripture, is not the revelation of Jesus Christ, but a delusion. Again he says, that whatever dictates, in the heart and conscience of man, are contrary to scripture; they are not to be regarded, but disowned and judged, by the Light which comes from Christ. Now as the doctrines of Elias Hicks are not according to scripture-they cannot be the revelations of Jesus Christ; and as they contradict and deny the testimony of the scriptures of truth, they ought not to be regarded or followed; but are condemned by that light which comes from Jesus Christ, and which according to William Dewsbury, always leads its followers into a life and conversation which accords with the testimony of the sacred volume. Thus we see that the very authors whom the compilers have adduced, as authority for the innovations and unsound doctrines of Elias Hicks, judge and condemn him, in the most decisive and positive manner, as one who has gone from the leadings of the Holy Spirit, and wandered into the mazes of error and doubt.

Page 66 of the pamphlet has a quotation from William Dewsbury, which the compilers have, as usual, mutilated. We shall insert the whole paragraph, and enclose their extract in brackets with a hand. It is from the reply to John Timson, viz:

"The sixth false accusation; thou sayest we boast that we are as perfect as Christ that died at Jerusalem.

Reply-Thy charge is false, boasting we deny, or any perfection that is of self; [our righteousness, without Christ, is as a