Truth & innocency triumphing over falshood [and] envy, or Jasper Batt's vindication against William Roger's un-christian [sic] and false insinuations, in his book mis-called The Christian Quaker, &c. Batt, Jasper, d. 1702. 1681 Approx. 27 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A26826 Wing B1144A ESTC R215820 99827588 99827588 32010 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A26826) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 32010) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1861:27) Truth & innocency triumphing over falshood [and] envy, or Jasper Batt's vindication against William Roger's un-christian [sic] and false insinuations, in his book mis-called The Christian Quaker, &c. Batt, Jasper, d. 1702. 12 p. printed for John Bringhurst, printer and stationer, at the sign of the Book in Grace-Church-Street, [London : 1681] Caption title. Imprint from colophon. A reply to: Rogers, William. The Christian Quaker. Reproduction of the original in the Friends' House Library, London. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Rogers, William, d. ca. 1709. -- Christian Quaker distinguished from the apostate & innovator. Society of Friends -- Apologetic works -- Early works to 1800. Quakers -- England -- Early works to 1800. 2006-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-07 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-09 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2006-09 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Truth & Innocency TRIUMPHING OVER Falshood & Envy , OR , Jasper Batts's Vindication against William Roger's Un-christian and False Insinuations , in his Book Mis-called , The Christian Quaker , &c. I Could the better have sate down in silence under the Unchristian , and Slanderous Insinuations in that Book cast out against me , especially when I consider so many of the Lords antient and faithful Servants , by this Adversary , are made my Companions herein : And also the Darkness , Envy and Confusion , in the said Book manifested ; having also the evidence of the Lords spirit for my own Innocency . But some necessity is upon me to Write , and give forth a few Lines in Answer thereunto , and confutation thereof ; and so much the rather , because it s not so much My Reputation , as Truth it self , that this Adversary strikes at ; and therefore also willing to be a companion with my Brethren , in a Testimony against this wicked undertaking . And this is my Testimony in general ; That it is in its self a Work of Darkness , and from the Accuser of the Brethren , which must be cast down for ever : And such is the Blackness and Foulness thereof , That as yet , ( though doubtless several were concerned in their purses , to assist the bringing forth thereof ) I have not heard of one particular person that owns the same : And am not without hope , that several of those so concerned , may in time see their folly , and Repent thereof , as many others have done , who were beguiled by the same spirit . And now , as to my own particular , wherein Truth is concerned with me ; for this is that which is chiefly in my eye , to answer to in this Book part 2. pages 82 , 89. he thus expresses himselfe Doubtless should any man accuse Jasper Batt ( one of those that judged John Story and John Wilkinson without hearing them speak for themselves ) That he went about Preaching , thereby occasioning somtimes Twenty Pound Fines , somtimes Forty Pound Fines , to be imposed on the Hearers , and incourage them to be valiant for Truth , and to offer up all ( whilst his Estate was well secured out of the Persecutors reach , or at least nothing to be found of his own to pay such his Fines ) he would think John Story very ill imployed , to have a hand in giving forth a publick Testimony against him , to be read in all the monethly and quarterly Meetings in England , before he had either spoken or written to him to know what he could say for himself , that he might have opportunity to hush it up by writing a Paper of Condemnation , if so be he were guilty . [ He farther saith ] We cannot believe that Jasper Batt hath not done as bad as this in signing with the Sixty Six at E. Hooks ' s Chamber ; and if the case stated in his Name be not groundless , 't is then notorously wicked . Thus plainly insinuating , as if I had designed First , to secure my own Estate , and then Exhort others to give up All for Truth , and occasioned such to be fined as abovesaid . To which I Answer , this Insinuation is Un-Christian , being against the Rule that Christ gives , in case a Brother Offends which is ; Tell him his Fault between thee and him , &c. Now this I affirm , that W. R. nor any other on his behalf , never did in the least question me , or express to me any dissatisfaction concerning me , touching what he thus insinuates ; which according to Christs Rule he ought to have done : And therefore his thus proceeding is Un-christian . And this I farther testify in the Lords Presence , ( who knows that I lye not ) that I never disposed of , or secured any part of my Estate , to avoyd the loss thereof , for Truths Testimony ; but have managed the same according to the Vnderstanding the Lord hath given me for its service . For when I was first convinc'd of Truth , I soon received it in the love thereof , and gave up my self and all I had to be serviceable therein ; and being called by the Lord to spend near my whole time in its Service , the Lord in time so disposed of my Condition , that I was necessitated , either to put off the management of the Estate which the Lord had given me , or give up my Testimony , as then required of me ; that part of my Family being removed , that were any way capable to manage the same in my absence , and intently waiting on the Lord for his Council , and advise with faithful Friends : I was fully satisfied ( and so am to this Day ) that my place was to keep my publick Testimony , and let my Estate ; which I did accordingly , disposing of part thereof to my Children , as becomes a Father to provide for his Family , and this was done ( the Lord knows ) that I might be the more at liberty in the Lords Service ; and as Paul advised Timothy , 2 Tim 2.4 . He that goes a warfare , intangles not himself with the things of this Life , that he may please him who hath Chosen him to be his Souldier . And farther , that this ordering of my Affairs was not to avoyd Sufferings on the Act against Conventicles , is the more Evident , because it was done a considerable time before that Act was made . And this also I farther testify , that it hath been my care and diligence , since the Lord called me into his service , as on the one Hand , not to run when he sent me not ; so also , not to neglect the Duty he required of me : And this is my great Comfort to this day , whatever this Adversary , or any other judges of me , I have walk't in the Simplicity of my Heart before the Lord , and have , and do enjoy the Testimony of his Love , and assistance of his Presence , which is a large reward unto me ; Glory to his Name for ever . And so this his Insinuation is very False and Envious . W. R. speaks of giving out a Paper of Condemnation , for occasioning others to be fined for my Preaching , and my Estate secured , and not to be found , as he insinuates , &c. I Answer , what would he have me Condemn ? Is it the securing my Estate from suffering ? ( I never did it ) I am not guilty herein , therefore no Condemnation belongs to me for that : Or would he have me Condemn my Appearance publickly , with a Testimony for God , when the Lord requires , and moves ? And draw into Holes , Corners , and under Hedges , as some of our Opposers have done . his plainly appears to be of that Spirit that would lay waste all our Meetings , and Extinguish the Doctrine and Life of Christanity , that would justify the fearful and wicked , and condemn the Righteous , which is an Abomination to the Lord : what Darkness and Confusion doth this Spirit run into ! And whereas W. R. insinuates , my Fine to be laid upon others . If I am Fined , or any other , for speaking in the Name of the Lord , and others suffer on that Account , it s well for me to answer the Lords requirings in speaking , and for others also to frequent our Meetings ; and so that Suffering being for well doing , shall not be without a Reward from the Lord : For happy are ye when ye suffer for Righteousness sake ; and that were evil to disobey the Lords Requirings , either in frequenting , or speaking in Meetings , and is for Condemnation by the Truth , what ever W. R's judgment is of it . That J. Story and J. W. were judged without a Hearing , is utterly false ; they having been heard with Witnesses face to face , at a Meeting where were present several of the Sixty Six mentioned : of which Meeting , and Proceedings , W. R. hath given a large Testimony of the Lords Peace amongst them , and their great travel of Love and Life for J. S. and J. W. an Account whereof may be seen in Bristol-Friends Answer to W. R's Book : at which Meeting , after hearing of all Parties , they were judged to have entertained a wrong Spirit ; and for several other Offences against the Church of Christ , as by a Narrative thereof may appear . And from a Meeting in London , 1676. they were by many antient and faithful Brethren , advised , and warned in the Lords Name ( as he then required ) not to offer their Gift , nor meddle in the publick Affairs of the Church , until satisfaction was given to the Church so offended : which Advice and Warning was wholly rejected by them . And then at the Meeting at London , 1677. in Unity with the former Judgment given after Hearing of Witnesses face to face , and their rejecting the Advice and Warning ( aforesaid ) given them the year before , a Testimony was given against them by more than Sixty Six : so as to the things for which they were judged , and a Testimony given against them , they were fully heard before judgment ; and so the Charge is False . And now all this truly weighed , the Case stated in my Name is groundless , and so Not notoriously wicked in Me : But then , whether it be not Notorious Wickedness in W. R. thus to Insinuate , and publish in Print against me while Innocent , let Gods Witness in all judge : for I never secured my Estate from suffering for Truths Testimony , nor out of the Persecutors Reach : for I have , and still had an Estate Real and Personal , held in my own Name , and not made in trust to any other . And if it be wickedness so to secure an Estate in Trust , when no Consideration , but to save from Suffering for Truths Testimony , W. R. then ought to look nearer Home before he thus range abroad ; but some will be medling while they count themselves Wise . And so the Wickedness , Falshood , Envy , and Confusion , rests on W. R's . own Head , for which in due time , the Lord will Reckon with him . And whereas W. R. speaks of me and my three Companions , that speak of some in a Paper of ours , that despise Government , and speak evil of Dignities , and he Accounts not us to be such . To which I Answer , that many of the Lords little Ones , and faithful Servants , have been despised , and spoken evil of by several that are joyned to that Spirit in which this our Adversary appears to be ; but as far as I have heard or understood , he have out-stript them all , as this his work of Darkness doth manifest . Now Christ Jesus saith of his Disciples , and little Ones , He that despiseth you , despiseth me ; and he that despiseth me , despiseth him that sent me . And this is a Dignity rightly claimed by the Lords faithful Servants to be his Disciples , and little Ones : then if they that Reproach and Despise them , despiseth God and Christ , such despiseth Dignities , and speaks Evil of them . Many other Contemptible , Scornfull , Deriding , and Reproachful Expressions against me , and many others of the Lords servants , he hath uttered in his said Book : All which I Trample under foot , knowing my own innocency , and leave him to the Judgement of God for the same : but cannot yet well let pass without some notice taken , how much he pretends a Conscentious concern for truth , to print this his Book : And I well remember how Rabshaketh that blasphemous General , could pretend as high for his War against the Lords people ; who saith , And am I now come up without the Lord against this Land ; the Lord said unto me , Go up against this Land and destroy it , Isa . 36.10 . And this also I cannot well omit without notice , what he saith , Part 2. Pag. 92. viz. A hoping , that for the future , Jasper Batt will learn more modesty , than to account himself a Governour , &c. And I may say it would be well , if W. R. would learn so much modesty as to forbear to insinuate such falsehood ; for when , or where , did I ever account my self a Governour : But as the Lord hath given me a Testimony , against deceipt , and wickedness , and for his everlasting truth , I hope he will preserve me faithful therein to the end . Herein I may be scorned , and reproach't for the same by W. R. or any other of Truths Adversaries : And in the sence of the Lords power and presence with me , shall rejoyce ; and Triumph over it all ; well knowing that the Truth in it's simplicity must Reign over all at last . And this is that which is before me at present , to write in vindication of Truth , and my own Reputation ; well knowing other of the Lords servants are concerned more largely to answer , and testifie against W. R's work of darkness and confusion in that Book manifested ; being well satisfied , that I am counted worthy to be a companion with them ; And so commit my self and cause to the Lord , and his witness in all to judge : In whose Peace and Love I rest , A servant of Jesus Christ . J. B. Some of William Rogers his scornful bitter Words against Iasper Batt , and his Three Companions , &c. With some Observations upon them . William Rogers in his Book ( falsly ) Entituled the Christian Quaker , &c. part 2. p. 92. hath these Words . All these ( viz ) J. Batt and his Three Companions , and the rest of the Sixty Six Subscribers , are by their Paper Manifest , to have Run in the very way of Cain by Persecuting the Brethren , and have appeared as Raging Waves of the sea , foaming out their own shame by their hard Speeches , which are the very Marks and Fruits of those who despise Government according to the Scriptures , which J. Batt and his Brethren hath directed us to peruse . Observe , William Rogers Complains much against Judging ; but who amongst us equalls him therein ? Let his Words above Cited , as also what follows , with abundance more of like Nature in his great Confused Book , speak for him , or against him , in the Understandings and Consciences of all Judicious and impartial Readers . Can he prove that J. Batt , or his Three Companions ( and the rest he here mentions ) have ever Charged J. S. and J. W. and the Wiltshire Friends , or the Bristol Friends , who write and speak severely against them , to have run in the very way of Cain . How doth this his bitter false Judgment agree with the Scriptures Cited by him against judging part 2 , and p. 90. Mat. 7.1 . Rom. 14.10 . Let the Reader Examine , and seriously Consider the same . He hath rendred us in the very way of Cain ( Observe the Emphasis ) . The very way of Cain is not only Envy , but also Actual Murder . The living God knows , that this is a very uncharitable , false , and wicked Judgement , for which the Lord will Rebuke him . Gods faithful witness in our own Souls , justifies us from his false and malicious Charge . First , What was written concerning J. S. and J. W. ( of which W. R. complaineth ) was not written in any degree of Envy against the said persons . Secondly , God doth know , that we never endeavoured to murder the said J. S. and J. W. nor any other person concerned in this Controversy against us . But Cain did not only endeavour to murder , but did actually murder his innocent Brother . We being wholly clear , not only of the Act , but the very intention of murder , are therefore Not in the very way of Cain . For we could be very glad to see J. S. and J. W. and the rest concerned with them , condemn that which is Evil , and return into Unity with Friends , who are in the Love of God towards them , and in peaceable Unity one with another in his Spirit . W. R. in his Book scoffingly writes against Friends concerning Excommunication . See part 2. p. 84. But hath not he , to the utmost of his power , endeavoured to excommunicate , not only J.B. and his Three Companions , but all the Sixty Six mentioned before , without giving them Gospel-order ; or at least many of them he hath not dealt with , according as Christ commands ( Amongst which the faithful Ministers struck at by W. R. are sound in Doctrine , as well as in Life and Conversation ) and his Apostles direct . Therefore his uncharitable dealing towards us , Christ and his Apostles testimony witnesseth against . If W. R. could make the Church of Christ believe , that We are in the very way of Cain : then , no doubt , they would declare against us as persons with whom they could have no Unity , in their Christian-Faith and Religion , and so he would get us denyed by the Church of God , the Pillar and ground of Truth . But they have a true Sense and Knowledge of us , to be Men fearing God , and lovers and practisers of Christian Vertue , in Life and Conversation , led thereinto , and preserved therein by the pure Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ , who is Captain of our Salvation , and Bishop of our Souls , and true Head of the living Body , his Church , who Reigns in , and over every Member , who leads us into Love one to another , and to live in Peace and Unity one with another , and preserves therein ; and teaches to love Enemies ; to do good to them that despightfully Use and Persecute . These that are thus taught are far from the very way of Cain , which is Envy and Murther , These envy no man : But hate Pride , Arrogancy , and every evil way ; such Christ doth own . W. R's . Envy and bitter Words cannot get them Excommunicated out of Christ's Church , though they may be denyed by him , and such as he is . But his words or denyal is of no Value with us ; and many others that fear God. Again , W. R. saith in page 89. part 2. We now are sensible , that the said , J. Batt and his Three Companions ( having assumed the place of Judges ) will not think our Arguments deducible from the Light within sufficient , to Evidence their Ignorance and Weakness , no more than if they were four blind Priests , who neglecting the Heavenly Gift in themselves , may seek a justification of their Priestly Jurisdiction from the Scriptures without . Observ . His comparing us with four blind Priests , as aforesaid , is both Scornful , Malicious , and greatly Unjust . Herein he renders us , 1st . As blind as the blind Priests . 2 dly . As much neglecting the Heavenly Gift in our selves , as they . 3dly . As great Slighters and Contemners of the Light of Christ within , as they . Oh Unrighteous Judgment , I do deny W. R's aforesaid pretended Sense , 'T is grosly False , and Slanderous . For we are of the Apostles Faith concerning the Light of Christ within ; who saith , Whatsoever is reproved is made manifest by the Light ; and that which doth make Manifest , is Light. But neither the Light of Christ within us , nor the Scriptures of Truth without , nor yet W. R's Observations thereupon , hath manifested to us , that to be our Ignorance and VVeakness , which he in his Uncharitable Lofty Mind calleth so . But suppose we were Ignorant and Weak , will no softer Words serve W. R. against us for this , than to Judge us to be in the very way of Cain , for Weakness and Ignorance ? if he could prove both against us , will not prove his Charge against us true . For they who are in the very way of Cain , are more than Weak and Ignorant ; they are grosly Wicked and Prophane , in Envy , Murder , &c. O William ! Thou want'st Charity , in this Judgment , which is the bond of perfectness , as the Apostle said . He also said , If I want Charity , I am nothing ; but he had it , and therein was accepted of God : But thou without it wilt be rejected . W. R. It appears in part 2. p. 91. that thou art offended at J. Batt , and his Three Companions , for citing the Epistles of Peter and Jude , in their Reply to the Bristol-Paper , and desiring them to be read , and rightly apply'd , &c. It appears as if thy offence were , because they did not inform those to whom they wrote , how to apply the aforesaid Scriptures . And it appears , because the said Epistles are cited to be read , and rightly applyed ; Thou takest occasion to compare I. B. and his Three Companions , to Four Blind Priests , who neglecting the Heavenly gift in themselves , may seek a Iustification of their Priestly Iurisdiction from the Scriptures without . The unjustness of this comparison is shewed before . But William , thou hast brought Scriptures in defence of what thou writest in thy Book against Friends , and thou hast not informed them how to apply them Right . Of which , I conclude , thou hast heard something already , and maist hear more hereafter . Some other of thy Companions , who write against Friends , have brought Scriptures to prove what they Write ; but have not rightly applyed them , nor informed Friends so to do . Art thou willing to be Judged for not Teaching them , as aforesaid , as thou hast Judged U● ? Namely , to be As Blind as Priests , &c. Why shouldest thou be Offended at our citing those wholesome Epistles ? dost thou herein shew a right esteem for those Holy Scriptures ? cannot we cite Scriptures , and leave People rightly to apply them , as Guided by that Holy Spirit , that Guided the Holy Men in giving them forth ; But for so doing , be by thee Judged To neglect the Heavenly Gift in our selves , and to be as Blind as Four Blind Priests ? It seems to appear in thy Book , that thou hast an Opinion , That the Tree of Knowledge is good for Food . But it were better for thee to wait upon God in the Light of his Son , and therein to be Obedient to Him , that so thou mayst Eat of the Fruit of the Tree of Life ; which Food would fill thee with Charity , without which thou canst not be Accepted of God , who is Love ( or Charity ) as the Holy Apostle Testified . The word Dignity expressed in Peter and Judes Epistles , cited by J. Batt , and his Thrre Companions , W. R. doth Paraphrase upon , in a scornful manner , against the said Friends , and others ; as may be seen in part 2. pag. 92. Observe , The word Dignity signifies Honour , as the Dictionaries render it . How often doth W. R. in his Book , call J. S. and J. W. Honourable ? And in his Preface to the Reader , p. 3. he calls J. S. and J. W. Two antient and honourable Labourers in the Gospel of Christ , whose Conversations and Doctrines , I have not known or understood to be exceeded in Godliness , by any Mortal Man whatsoever , saith he . † Doth he not herein highly Honour or Dignify them ? Why may not God Honour or Dignify his Servants ; who seek not the Honour that comes from the Earthly Mind ; but that which comes , from God only ? God hath said by the Mouth of the Prophet , * Them that Honour Me , I will Honour : And before True Honour , goeth Humility . * The word Government is also Paraphrased on by W. R. in the two aforesaid pages in a bitter and scornful manner , against J. Batt , and many of the Lord's Servants . To which I say , on the behalf of Christ and his Church , That we own no other Government in his Church , but that which is upon his Shoulders ; as God hath promised . He is one in the Male , and in the Female ; as the Holy Apostle said ; who is Prince of Peace , and keeps his Subjects in Peace , and Unity one with another . J. B. London , Printed for John Bringhurst , Printer and Stationer , at the Sign of the Book in Grace-Church-Street . 1681. Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A26826-e10 Part 2. page 91. Notes for div A26826-e1240 1 Cor. 13. Col. 3.14 2 Tim. 2.22 . Tit. 2.2 . † But W. R. thus high applauding J. S. and J. W. as Not exceeded by any Mortal Man whatsoever , hath not answered the Witness of God in our Consciences ; and his Narrative , and their Paper of Condemnation prove the contrary : And hath not W. R. herein applauded J. S. and J. W. somewhat like , as the Samaritans did Sim. Magus ? * Much more might be said to this ; and that from the Scriptures of Truth , as well as inward Experience . But this in short at present . * Much more might be said to this ; and that from the Scriptures of Truth , as well as inward Experience . But this in short at present .