same as to Miracles or to equalize themselves therein with the Apostles though God hath wrought Wonders and Miracles among them and by some as Instruments in his hand Art 78. That to redeem and make free from Sin is done with the Body of Christ which we have told you is the Church A Perversion still as if the Church only did redeem and free it self whereas 't is Christ in and with his own Body that redeems his Church which is that Body of his whereof he is Head Though he has an intire peculiar and glorious Body yet the Church as united to him and Members of his Body comprehensively make up one Indivisible Body in the compleat and mysterious Union and Fulness of himself § 32. Art 81. That that man looks upon Christ with a Carnal Eye that looks upon him to have a true Body Which is a lying Forgery still Christ hath a true and Spiritual glorious Body whereof the Saints are Members in the spiritual and mysterious union wiâ—h himself § 32. Art 83. That Fellowship at the Lords Table is very wicked Is also a perverse falshood for ye cannot eat at the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devils Covetous Priests and Wicked People though they have the Sign or Shadow yet are short of the Lord's Table and partake not of the Flesh and Blood of Christ nor of his Supper while they shut him out of their Hearts § 16. 25. Art 89. That Vnquakeriz'd Christians do worship an unknown God A Forgery still none of our Terms or Creed but false and fleshly Christians do so Worship § 31. There are divers more Forgeries Perversions and Falshoods in the Priests Articles which for brevity's sake I omit and shall now give the Reader an Account according to my second Proposition before stated of some Truths set down in the Priests Articles which are not according to his Faith he having given them all the Title of the Quakers Vnsound Faith And thus I proceed viz. Pr. Art 2 3. Now we Quakers do believe that the Spirit alone doth give true discerning that the Light within ought to be the Rule of our Faith and Practice Answ We do believe that the Spirit of Truth is all-sufficient for those Ends 't is given for and leadeth into all Truth that true discerning of Spirits is a Gift of this Spirit and that we ought to walk in the Light of Christ Jesus and his Spirit as the chief Rule of our Faith and Practice which things it seems this Priest does not believe he believes not that the Spirit alone doth give true Discerning or that the Divine Light thereof ought to be his Rule He believes the Scripture to be the Rule of Life without the Light within as he has told us p. 120. § 14 15. Pr. Art 21. We Q. believe that we are to mind the Spirit alone in all things Answ We do believe we ought to mind the Spirit of Truth in all things both in reading Scripture for a true understanding thereof and in our Words and Actions but this Priest does not believe he ought to be so mindful of the Spirit his mind is more upon Flesh than Spirit § 14 15 23. Pr. Art 34. We Q. do believe that the Name Sunday is Heathenish that every day is the Lord's day Answ Then this Priest does not believe the Name Sunday is Heathenish or proceeded from Heathens or that every day is the Lords thus ignorant he has shewn himself § 20. Pr. Art 35. We Q. believe that they are no truly faithful Christians who deny that there is a perfect freedom from all manner of Sin to be had in this Life that their Faith is not the true Faith if it doth not cleanse them from all their Sins Answ This Priest therefore believes that they are truly faithful Christians and in the true Faith who deny a Perfect freedom from Sin in this Life and whose Faith does not cleanse them from their Sins which is contrary to the Belief and Faith of truly faithful Christians who know the Heart-purifying Faith and the Blood of Christ to cleanse them from all Sin and such could say He hath washed us from our Sins in his own Blood But 't is not done in this Life saith the Priest When then In the Life to come it must be But Where must it be in a Purgatory between Heaven and Hell That 's Popish Doctrine § 21. and 28. Pr. Art 36. We Q. do believe that the Scripture is not the Light nor the Word nor the Life nor the Judge nor the Rule nor the Guide nor the Tryer of Spirits Answ This being also included in the Qrs. unsound Faith by the Priest we must take it for granted that he believes the Scripture is the Light the Life the Judge †Contrary to Psal 50.6 Isa 33 22. Acts 10.42 Heb. 12.23 James 5.9 the Rule the Guide the Tryer of Spirits which Terms by way of Eminency most properly belonging to God to Christ to the holy Spirit to the divine Light * John 1 c 11.25 c. 14.6 might not the Priest as well have told us that the Scripture is God and Christ § 22 23 § 14 15. Pr. Art 37. We Q. do believe that the People and Teachers are Ignorant of Christ who seek Life in the Scripture where it is not to be found Answ So then this Priest therefore believes that Eternal Life is to be sound in the Scriptures and they who seek it in the Scripture do know and find Christ the Light and Life Eternal therein which is contrary to Christs own Testimony John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye THINK ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me but ye will not come to me that ye might have Life § 22 23. § 14 15. Pr. Art 50. We Q. do believe That they are all Heathens and no Christians who are so baptiz'd i. e. with Water and cannot witness the other Baptism i. e. the Baptism of Christ Answ This Priest then believes that they all are no Heathens but Christians who are Baptized or Sprinkled with Water when Infants though they cannot witness the Baptism of Christ at such an easie rate can he make Christians contrary to Christs own Testimony If I do not wash thee thou hast no part in me and except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God § 16. 25. 29. Pr. Art 51. We Q. do believe that Sacramental Bread so called is Natural that the Cup is such like and that which they call the Lords Supper is a Shadow Answ This being also included in the Qrs. Vnsound Faith we may take it for granted that the Priest does not believe that the Bread and the Cup which they call Sacramental and the Lords Supper are Natural Carnal or Shadow What then that they are Supernatural Spiritual the Substance the Body and Blood of Christ yea That the Bread broken
'T is high time for the King's Majesty the Defender of the Faith to gird on his Sword comparing the Quakers to stinging Snakes in the Bosom of Indulgence calling the Quakers Meeting or Church an Unlawful Conventicle the Congregation of Evil-doers pag. 43. and not only accusing the Quaker with being no Loyal Subject but also with Treason and Rebellion His Out rage being chiefly because Hat and Knee Honour and such Worldly Out-side Complements and Earthly Honour cannot be complyed with by the Plain Simple-hearted Impartial Quaker who being in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ has an Eye to that Honour which comes from God only and not that which is from below earthly and must all be laid in the Dust Thus this Adversary has not only reflected on the King's Indulgence and sought to instigate him against his Peaceable Protestant Subjects but also like a Popish Incendiary to divide and weaken the real Protestant Interest and animate the Papists and introduce Popery and Arbitrary Government in Church State which with Persecution and Coertion to uphold it is Popery in the highest and therefore whilst this Clergy-man makes a great Noise against Papists and Popery he is but under a Disguise to cover his own Popish Rigid Persecuting Arbitrary Self-Willed Spirit and therein carrying on the Design of Popery and not only in this of Persecution but also in his very Language Doctrine and manner of Arguing where instead of Rationally Confuting the Quaker he cryes up the Faith and Authority of the Church as having the King and Bishops or outward Powers on his side therein like as if he should impose upon us that we must be of the Faith of that Church that has a Coercive Power to maintain her and what Interest will not this serve And where he frequently calls the Virgin Mary the Mother of God he shews himself greatly offended at the Quaker for deeming the Phrase Popish and Unscriptural pag. 26 27. As also his saying that the Bread broken that is in the Sacrament is the Body of Christ pag. 78. Thus this pretended Anti-papist hath his Work intermixed with such Popish Language and Stuff and yet he would be thought a Real Protestant while he is unjustly branding the Quaker with Popery There are two sorts of Clergy-men whereof this seems to be one that are very liable and fit to introduce Popery at unawares even under Pretence of the Church of England among the Simple and Ignorant People in this Nation to the vitiating and corrupting of their Minds and that is the Temporizing Clergy-men and the Debauched Drunken Clergy men which our Nation is too much filled with God knows for neither of them are either Tender or Conscientious about Religion but so corrupted hardened and debauched in their Consciences that they have lost their Zeal for the Protestant Cause Religion and Interest only fit to comply with such Interests as may most serve their own Ends and Turns which is the very way to introduce Popery Idolatry and Arbitrary Rule and Imposition both in Affairs Ecclesiastical and Civil 't is apparent that as Hypocrisie Loosness and Debauchery do harden and sear Peoples Consciences and make them Irreligious and Atheistical so these things are not only privious to Popery but In lets and Incouragements thereto for what Religion can be more grateful to the Flesh than that which is most Indulgent to it in its corrupt Wayes as for men daily to commit Sin and then believe that Priests have a Dispensation from the Pope or Sea of Rome to indulge and pardon them and that though they live in many gross Sins and Enormities all their dayes as they that plead for Sin and Imperfection to continue all their Life time yet the worst and final Punishment for them is but a Purgatory hereafter for some term of Years as their Priests for their own Ends make them believe What can be more easie and grateful to Fleshly Minds than such a Religion as this and how near a kin to this is our present Adversary's pleading and contending for Sin term of Life and which is worse charging the best of men with sinning daily so long as they live let the serious Reader Judge when he reads the Controversie hereafter And though this our Adversary has conceal'd his Name and would go Hood-winked I have some Account out of the County of Durham who he is and what he is as to his Conversation among his Neighbours in these words viz. There being a Pamphlet lately put forth against Friends entituled The Papists Younger Brother or the Vileness of Quakerism Detected by Misoplanes and Philalethes in which Gotation out of Friends Books are taken and Wickedly and Enviously paraphrased upon to render Truth Odious and Friends Obnoxious to expose them to Persecution Friends here about Darlington can give a sufficient Account of him as being a very great Persecutor by whom our Friends of Darlington Meeting have suffered very much His Name is Leonard Wastall Priest at a Town called Harworth about two Miles from Darlington where he has been Priest both in Oliver 's dayes and in these his Envy and Wicked Carriage is sufficiently known his Name is in the Record of the Sufferings of Darlington with many Circumstances of his many inhumane and wicked Actings against Friends if thou or any other may see any service of having an Account of him or his Conversation or Carriage Envy and Wicked Proceedings against Truth Friends here at Darlington can return you it with many Remarkable Circumstance Thus far the Account from a Person of Credit bearing date the 7th of the 3d Moneth 1679. For a more evident Discovery of our Antagonist the Reader is desired by the way to observe this Certificate which lately came to hand viz. These are to certifie that whereas there is an Abusive Book put forth against the People of God in Scorn called Quakers entituled The Papists Younger Brother c. and no real Name at it but instead thereof two Fained Names viz. Misoplanes and Philalerhes which Book was believ'd to be put forth by Leonard Wastall Priest of Harworth a Man well known in this Country to be Maliciously bent against the same People and a great Persecutor of the same yet for certain satisfaction hereof I did ask the same Leonard Wastal if he owned himself to be the Author of that Book entituled The Papists Younger Brother c. and subscribed by Misoplanes and Philalethes and he did own himself to be the Author of that Book so entituled in the Presence of Richard Scaife Merchant of Darlington Robert Johnson of Bernard-Castle Attourney Robert Lin of Blackwell Yeoman Men of good Credit Edward Tonstall 'T is also very remarkable what a great height the Priest's Envy and Malice is gotten to in his falsly representing the Quaker as being the Papists Younger Brother both contrary to the general sense of all moderate true English Men and Protestants and the publick Resentment and Cognizance that both the Commons
And 2 Cor. 3.6 Who also made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit And whether the words Carnal Commandment and Carnal Ordinances related to no part of Scripture Heb. 7.16 9 10. And whether no part of the Scripture or Writing of Moses or any else was intended in this term Letter But consider all Scripture as it signifies Writing ought there not to be a distinction made not only between the Writing and the matter written but much more between the Writing and the Spirit Life or Substance declared of in the Writing Concerning Baptism he defends his practice very poorly whilst he intends Baptizing or rather Sprinkling young Children in his telling us That the Church of England is grosly mistaken this Quakers Doctrine hath Quaked the Doctrine of the Church of England into a meer delusion p. 78. And why so but because the Quaker saith The Baptism we own is the Baptism of Christ there is but one Lord one Faith one Baptism from Matth. 3.11 Ephes 4.5 6. Collect. J. P. p. 67. Now this Priest proves not that Baptizing with Water muchless that Sprinkling Infants is this one Baptism we have only his Say so or his Belief for it or that Sprinkling Infants is a sign of Regeneration whereby as an Instrument the baptized are grafted into the Church p. 78. He produces us no Scripture-proof for it Pr. pag. 78. This Quaker hath very mean Thoughts of the Lords Supper he counts it but the Worlds Communion As for the Bread broken which is the Body of Christ this Quaker calls it the Bread which the World breaks he speaks abominably of this Bread blessed and broken calling it Carnal Natural that it passeth out of the Body c. Bread and Wine but the Husk and Shadow without p. 79. Answ It appears by this that he deems their Bread and Wine Spiritual Supernatural the Substance the Bread the Body of Christ and then by this the Wine must be the Blood of Christ when blest or consecrated by the Priest Which is rank Popery all one with the Doctrine of Transubstantiation as the Rhemists in their Annot. on Matth. 26. affirm a Consecrating the several Elements of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ the Bread into his Body a part as betrayed broken and given for us the Wine into his Blood a part as shed out of his Body for remission of Sins and Dedication of the New Testament Which is their professed Transubstantiation or changing the Substance of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ according as our Adversary tells us That the Bread broken is the Body of Christ He has left the Doctrine of the Antient Protestants and Protestant-Martyrs who did not own any such Change of the Elements of Bread and Wine but only that as a Sign or Figure of the Body of Christ crucified they were received as a grateful Comemoration of Christ's Death and Sacrifice for mankind But this Adversary is offended that the Bread and Wine should be counted Natural nothing it seems will serve him short of their being the Body and Blood of Christ according as the Rhemists also on Luke 22.19 say Although sense tell thee 't is Bread yet it is the Body let Faith confirm thee judge not by Sense after the words of our Lord let no doubt rise in thy mind of the Verity of Flesh and Blood there is no place to doubt c. See how exactly our Adversary agrees with these Papists in saying The Bread broken is the Body of Christ as before By which he hath now more fully manifested his Popish Spirit especially if he means as he spoke as both repugnant to the Faith of all true Protestants who either look upon these outward Elements to remain the same in themselves in Substance both at and after the words of Consecration and no more than Signs Shadows or outward Mementos at most or look upon them as a Figure or Shadow of the Spiritual receiving of Christ's Body and Blood in the Mystery to eat his Flesh and drink his Blood by Faith as he is the living Bread that comes down from Heaven who gave his Flesh for the Life of the World For there is an Inward and Spiritual Supper of the Lord as well as there was an outward which they partake of who hear the Voice of the Son of God and open the Door of their Heart unto him that he may come in and Sup with them and they with him according to his Testimony in Rev. 3.20 Yet we acknowledge the Sign and Figure in its place and day but the Mystery or thing signified is greater and more Excellent Pr. The Letter or the Scripture is Dust the Serpents Meat which they food upon Answ This he falsly infers and casts upon J. Parn. whenas there is no such passage in J. P's words but that Those who pretend to study Divinity and go among Ignorant People and sell that which they have studied and got into the Brain and those who receive it get it into the Brain and so they live upon Dust which is the Serpents Meat Collect. J. P. p. 78 79. Hence its evident that he did not term the Scripture Dust but the Hireling Priests studied Brain-Notions or Knowledge Whereas the Priest appears in a great Rage and in Cruel Mockery against J. Fernel for his plain dealing with the Magistrates Heads and Priests of England as where J. P. saith For the Testimony of this true Ministry some of us are Imprisoned some Stoned some Stocked Whipped and shamefully intreated as Vagabonds Deluders Wanderers Raisers of Sedition c. and esteemed not worthy to live in the Nation both by Priest and Rulers who are out of the Commands of God and are Vagabonds and Fugitives from God who go in the Way of Cain and Envy and murder the Innocent Collect. J. P. pag. 80. As also where he saith We own Magistracy in its place for whilst there is Transgression there must be a Law and while the Devil hath Power over Man there will be Transgression The Law was given forth to curb Evil-doers c. And true Government according to the Law of God is Serviceable in its place and all Magistrates who fear God and hate Covetousness and are guided by the Light of God in the Conscience and execute the Law in its place without partiality and respect of Persons such are serviceable in their place and this we own and honour and are subject for Conscience-sake J. P. Collect. p. 81 82. These Passages the Priest has left out in his Citation except the first Line and then goes on citing viz. They neither know how to rule or govern who are guided by their own Wills such rule with partiality and respect of Persons and give forth Laws in their own Wills Persecute the Righteous encourage the Heathen c. Upon these and such passages before cited the Priest shamefully inveighs against and belies the Quakers
of England assembl'd in the late long Parliament and in the last Parliament received and had concerning the People called Quakers as when Motion was made in the House of Commons for their Relief from those Laws made in Q. Elizabeth's dayes against Popish Reousants and the Case committed and publickly examin'd and heard and our Declaration against Popery accepted in a Great and Publick Committee assembled in the Commons House as a sufficient Test to distinguish us the People called Quakers from Popish Recusants Thus far in the late long Parliament And in the last Parliament the Remembrance of that Resentment of the former was so much alive that the House of Commons past a Bill against Popery wherein there was a Clause provided for our Relief with other Dissenting Protestants from Laws made against Popish Recusants the Copy of our Declaration aforesaid that was delivered to the Committee of Parliament only a little more briefly contracted and as it was delivered in Print to the Member of the last Parliament is as follows A Protestation or Declaration to Distinguish Protestant-Dissenters from Popish Recusants I A. B. do in the Presence of Almighty God solemnly profess and in good Conscience declare It is my real Judgment That the Church of Rome is not the Church of Christ nor the Pope or Bishop of Rome Christ's Vicar and that his or her Doctrines Of Deposing Heretical Princes and Absolving their Subjects of their Obedience of Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead Of Indulgences and Worshipping of Images Of Adoring and Praying to the Virgin Mary and other Saints deceased And of Transubstantiation or changing the Elements of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ at or after the Consecration thereof by any Person whatsoever are False Erroneous and Contrary to the Truth of God declared in the Holy Scriptures And therefore the Communion of the said Church is Superstitious and Idolatrous And I do likewise sincerely testifie and declare that I do from the bottom of my Heart detest and abhor all Plots and Conspiracies that are or may be contrived against the King Parliament or People of this Realm And I do hereby Faithfully Promise with God's Help to live a Sober and Peaceable Life as becometh a good Christian and Protestant to do And all this I do Acknowledge Intend Declare Subscribe without any Equivocation or mental Reservation according to the true Plainness Simplicity and usual signification of the Words Witness my Hand Thus serious Reader I have plainly Introduced our Case in order to manifest our Clearness from our Adversary's unjust Imputations and Calumnies as 't is more fully evinced in the ensuing Treatise Dated London the 22d of the 9th Moneth 1679 G. W. THE Real Quaker A Real Protestant OUR Adversary having appeared so very gross and shameful in his Abuses I shall cite his own words in Paragraphs that most concern us to answer and then our Vindication in Answer to each particular Abuse and Falshood will be the more evident and the Method plain as in the ensuing Controversie § I. Priest page 1. My present Design is not to trouble this delicate People to prevent this I shall only give them their own Meat cook't by themselves in their own Dish Pag. 3. I shall only transcribe their own Books to serve as a Looking-Glass Ibid. I shall not Wyr-draw one Line in their Books to speak more than their own words will bear Answer Now if it appear that this Adversary has done more against us than only giving us our own Meat as he calls it cook't by our selves in our own Dish and than only transcribing our own Books and that he has made false Constructions upon them then he is an apparent Breaker of his own Promise perfidious and false to his own Words and Engagement before cited But that it will so appear and that to his Shame take a view of some of his own Gross and Vilifying Reflections Abuses Aspersions and Revilings Scoffing and Railery against us and Blasphemous Expressions against the Light within in his own Terms as followeth viz. The Quakers lamentable Brats My Design is only to remedy that Flatus or Windy Spirit that troubles them Their Enthusiastick Follies Their silly Quakerism Epist to the Reader The Quakers Fondling the Light within pag. 7 34. The Quakers Light within burnt dim in his Sockot pag. 8. The Light within is at unawares singing the old Cuckoes Song pag. 14. The Quakers Ignis Fatuus pag. 14. What a blind pitiful Elf is the Quakers Light within pag. 14. Quakers Ill-fighted Light within pag. 18 Quaking Lines frequently Socinianizing Quaker Papal Quaker pag. 17. Canting Quaker pag. 21. Brain-sick Quakers pag. 22. A Pope in their Bellies This pitiful Quaker pag. 22. Quaking Ramble pag. 25. Wants a Dose for his Perecranium pag. 27. The Quakers Idol the Light within pag. 33. Babel Quakers pag. 51. Rare Quaking stuff pag. 56. This Quaking Holy Man of God pag. 59. Another Quaker Atheist pag. 61. Hath not this Man Quaked to purpose pag. 65. Melancholly Quakers pag. 73. Lawless Quakers pag. 93. More of this Quakers stinking stuff pag. 98. Quaking Freedom from Sin pag. 102. O Quaking Perfection pag. 104. A great Quaking Heat pag. 114. Quakeriz'd Vnity pag. 117. These Quaking Vnities pag. 117. Quaking Inspiration pag. 127. Quaking Zelote pag. 132. Quaking Bishop pag. 137. Rebel and Traiterous Quaker pag. 138. Traiterly Quaker pag. 140. Much more of such like Scurrility Blasphemous and False Aspersions both against the Light within and against us hath our Adversary stufft his Large Pamphlet and Libellous Book withal From all which it follows directly that he has broke his own Promise and violated his Engagement For this Impious Atheistical Stuff before cited is his own Cookery not ours he hath herein done more than only transcribed our Books See what an unconscionable Antagonist we have to deal withal This is the Man that promised only to Transcribe our own Books only to give us our own Meat cook't by our selves c. Contrary whereunto he hath here taught People to Scoff Traduce give Names of Reproach and Vilifie both us as a People and the Light within profest by us which is no other than that True Light which lighteth every man coming into the World testified of in John 1.4 9. And this Adversary is the man that hath pretended Kindness of Love to undeceive the Quakers p. 3. But the Kindness he shews and Course he has taken to undeceive us is to Rail Scoff Jeer Vilify and Reproach us as his Language bespeaks Whereby also his gross Hypocrisie in pretending such Kindness to us is very obvious and his Abominable Malice and Envy as well as Falshood will further appear on many Particulars before we have done Pr. Page 1. Their Quakerism is a Compound of False Doctrine newly brought to Light several Old Errors new vamp't Antichristian Popery put forth in a New Dress Answ What he calls Quakerism is no such Compound of either
James Parnel's Books that in reading them over he found Cramben his Coctam he might have forborn this for shame in this case For as for Reiterations Repetitions and Tautologies of worse stuff than Colewort twice boild I never read any that surpassed him especially any of his Coat that stuff'd up a Book so big as his with so much Scoffing Jeering trifling and impious Reiterations with so little shew of Reason as he hath done which shews after what an Ungodly rate he has spent his Time and Study and how therein he has been attended and prompted with a Diabolical Spirit to inveigh like one mad with Envy against the Light of Christ within Perfection partaking of the Divine Nature and Unity of the true Church § XXXII Pr. pag. 122. Take heed to the Light of God within you this is only a Whim of the Qrs. Brain which hath no Foundation in any Apostolical Writings In Scripture we find mention made often of Christ the Light and sometimes of Christ in you But take heed to the Light of God within you this is only the Quakers false Doctrine Answ Look here he can scarce write a Paragraph without scoffing at the Qrs. Thus he inveighs against taking heed to the Light of God within he sayes It has no Foundation in any Apostolical Writings But see the man's Contradiction as well as his Ignorance herein He confesses that in Scripture we find often mention made of Christ the Light and sometimes of Christ in you and has this no Foundation in the Apostles Writings If Christ be the Light and Christ within must not he be taken heed unto and followed as he is manifest within even in them that believe in his Light as he has taught but if God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Must we not then take heed unto his Inshining Light in our Hearts when he shines in our Hearts to give us such Knowledge I had not repeated so much of this Man 's reiterated trifling and scornful Contradiction and Opposition to Truth but that his Folly may the more be seen and remain on record against him â—r Ibid. To be one in the Eternal Vnity smells strong of Parnel 's Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature that God is with us manifested in the Flesh all which is Abâ—â—inable â—lasphemy Answ As for Eternal Unity among Christ's Followers did not he pray for it John 17.21 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us And this partaking of Christ's Divine Nature offends the Priest still but his Folly therein is sufficiently detected before which now he greatly adds to in accounting it Abominable Blasphemy to say God is with us c. How then is Christ called Immanuel God with us And hath not God promised to dwell and walk in his People And were not the true Believers given up to suffer with Christ and to be delivered up to Death for his sake that the Life also of Jesus might be manifest in their mortal Flesh And doth not the Spirit of Christ dwell in true Believers and quicken their mortal Body to yield their Members as Instruments of Righteousness to God that Christ may dwell in their Hearts by Faith that they might know the Love of Christ and be filled with all the Fulness of God For which End Paul bow'd his Knees unto the Fathers of our Lord Jesus Christ see Ephes 3.14 to the end Pr. p. 124. Christ Jesus his Body is one which is his Church behold except the Church which is Christ's Mystical Body our Saviour hath no other Body Answ The Priest takes occasion for these words from a Passage he cites out of a Book called Truth 's Defence which as he cites it is That the Body of Christ is but one and he is the Head of the Body which is the Church Whence he infers our Saviour hath no other Body which is but his own Narrow Construction For it follows not from saying the Body of Christ or his Church is but one that Christ hath no Spiritual or Glorious Body peculiar to and of himself whereof the Church contains Members For what 's more plain than where it s said For as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ 1 Cor. 12.20 Then that all those many Members and that one Body of Christ whereof they are Members make upone Body collectively and joyntly in Christ and that the Church and Members of Christ as joyn'd to him and his Body to make up one Body in universal Union and Fulness of Christ Jesus so as all are joyned to him and Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone this makes us one Body where there is likewise one Christ who takes in and comprehends with him both his own Glorious Body like unto which the Body of the Saints Lowness was to be fashioned Phil. 3.21 and all the Members thereof who are joyned to him in that Mysterious Union that is between Christ and his Church as he is the true Vine and they the Branches And granting still that Christ has a Glorious Body most near proper to himself above and more excellent than all our Earthly Bodies like unto which he will change our Low and Humble Body 't is not improper to say The Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body Now are there many Members yet but one Body 1 Corinth 12.20 And there is one Body and one Spirit Ephes 4.4 Therefore a plurality of Bodies and Members may be truly called one Body in that Mystical or hidden Union that is between Christ and his Church for any Collective Body consisting of many People may be called one Body though this be far inferiour to the heavenly Union between Christ his Body and Church Lastly How can true Believers who are many be said to be One Bread from their eating of that one Bread which is Christ even of his Flesh which he gave for the Life of the World or be said to be Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone from their Union with him or his Church be said not only to be his Body but the Fulness of him that filleth all in all if in this Bread his Flesh Body and Fulness Christ's own Body be not so included and his Church therewith so nearly united as All comprehensively to make up One universal Body in the Fulness of Christ for how should his particular Body be excluded out of his Fulness and yet there are those who discern not the Lord's Body who eat and drink unworthily and so eat and drink their own Damnation But this Priest still proceeds in his Envious Attempts telling
is the Body of Christ as he has plainly declared pag. 78. Which is directly according to the Popish Doctrine of Transubstantiation § 25. Pr. Art 52. We Q. do believe that the Priests of England who Trade with the Form get human Learning pretend to study Divinity get certain Wage and sell that which they have studied their Ministry only hath the Form and denyes the Power that they come by the Will of Man and not by the Will of God that their Call and Ministry is a formal Imitation of Man c. Answ Seeing the Priest does not believe this it being so repugnant to his Gain and Interest it seems he believes that these Priests are come by the Will of God and not by the Will of Man and that their Call and Ministry is not Formal nor of Man but of God and that their Ministry hath the Power with it He herein believes them to be better then the Qr doth But yet we have but his Belief that they have their Call and Ministry from God and not from Man and till he produce better proof for his Belief than yet he has done we have no Reason to believe as he does without good Evidence and Conviction Which we are the more apt to dispair of while few of them do believe or own an Immediate Call or Mission from Heaven in these Dayes § 15. Pr. Art 54. We Q. believe that the Pharaoh like Magistrate God will Plague and Confound Answ But this Temporizing Priest owns not this Belief that God will Plague and Confound the Pharaoh-like Heard-hearted Oppressing Magistrate he is rather for Flattering and Crying Peace to the Wicked contrary to the Belief and Testimony of all God's holy Prophets and Witnesses who testified against Oppressors both King 's Rulers and others § 16 24 25. Pr. Art 55. We Q. still believe that the Devil is the Head of Man who would be Honoured Answ This still thwarts the Priests Belief who it seems believes not that the Devil is the Head of Proud Man that 's ambitious or desirous of Worldly Honour Surely he cannot reasonably think that Christ is the Head of such Unbelievers as are seeking that Honour which is from beneath § 17 18. Pr. Art 58. We Q. believe that it is the Devil and his Ministers who tell men That the Righteous man sins seven times a day that to deny a sinless Perfection in this Life is that Doctrine which maintains the Devils Kingdom that Doctrine whereby the Devil carries on People in an Easie Delightsom Way to the Flesh a Doctrine which heals them up in their Sins with a feigned Faith Answ But this the Priest will not at all believe he cannot entertain such mean and hard Thoughts of that Doctrine which denyes or opposeth a Sinless Perfection in this Life He does not believe that to argue for the Being of Sin in all Men Term of Life does either maintain the Devils Kingdom or that 't is an Easie Delightsom way to the Flesh whenas it must needs be more grateful and pleasing to Corrupt Flesh to have Sin remaining all its Dayes in false hopes of Happiness hereafter than to be crucified and mortified unto sin in this Life without which I believe and testifie men cannot be Happy hereafter whatever the Priest's Belief is to please Corrupt Flesh as his belief That Believers in Christ sin daily and that the Righteous man sins seven times a day We are neither of his belief herein nor yet that any of Christ's Ministers did ever teach or perswade people into such a Faith for Sins Continuance or thus to accuse the Believers and Righteous with sinning daily and seven times a day herein he has wrong'd the Scripture For though 't is said For a Just man falleth seven times Prov. 24.16 and riseth up again yet 't is neither said that he sins seven times a day nor that he sins daily Neither does it appear that this Just Man's falling seven times is a falling into Sin but rather a falling into Affliction and Trouble as it is said He shall deliver thee in six Troubles yea in seven there shall no Evil touch thee Job 5.19 It s evident that the Just Man's falling seven times and rising up again Prov. 24.16 is opposed to the Wicked's falling into Mischief and Vers 15. it s said Lay not in wait O Wicked man against the Dwelling of the Righteous spoil not his Resting place for a Just man falleth seven times and riseth up again which makes it more clear that this intends the Just Man's falling into Trouble and Suffering by reason of the Wicked laying in wait against him And to this purpose see Psal 37.23 24. The steps of a good man are ordred by the Lord and he delights in his Way though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand § 21. 28. Pr. Art eod We Q. do believe still that they who dwell in the Righteousness of Christ sin not Answ This is contrary to the Priests Faith still he believes that they who abide in the Righteousness of Christ sin daily sin seven times a day sin all their Life-time which is contrary to plain Scripture 1 John 3.6 Whosoever abideth in him that is in Christ sinneth not And see Chap. 2.1 But seeing this Priest believes not that he that abideth in Christ sinneth not but that he sins seven times a day he believes not his own Prayer in the Lyturgy viz. Vouchsafe O Lord to keep us this day without sin And a little after Minister O God make clean our Hearts within us Answ And take not thy holy Spirit from us And Almighty Father Collect. on Tu. in Easter Week which hast given thine only Son to dye for our Sins and to rise again for our Justification grant us so to put away the Leaven of Malice and Wickedness that we may alway serve thee in pureness of Living and Truth through Jesus Christ our Lord. Surely this Priest doth not present these Prayers to God either in Faith or Reality but only in pretence and shew from the Teeth outward § 28. See also § 7. 11. Pr. Art 59. We Q. do believe that they set up Infant-Baptism for which there is no Scripture That they have no Scripture for the word Sacrament Answ If this be a part of the Qrs. unsound Faith as the Priest renders it then he believes that there is Scripture for baptizing or sprinkling Infants and that they have Scripture for the word Sacrament He should do well to shew us those Scriptures for Sprinkling Insants and the word Sacrament in any of the holy mens Writings that were the Pen-men of Scripture that he might convince the Qrs. of the unsoundness of their Faith in this Point See ◠16 25. Pr. Art 62. We Q. do believe as our Friend James Parnel hath writ that we are Partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ by which we are made Christians and that God