the Scriptures and to my self within a few lines and thus hath thy partners also dealt with me For clearing whereof I refer the Reader to my own words in those places of my Book where they are mentioned as too long here to be repeated And to you as brethren in this iniquity I say might not such as your selves deal so with the Scriptures of Truth with the like out-cry and if so could it be reckoned less then a piece of deceit and it is the same in you to deal so with my words And I leave it with the impartial Reader to be considered whether it be equal dealing among men that while G. W. in the 13. Page of his Part chargeth it upon me as injurious disingenious and false in not giving a true account of the Principles of the Quakers which I undertook not and therefore I did not so much as mention that people that even in that same Book these men should deal so with my words in not giving a true account of what they plainly express though they have of their own accord taken it upon themselves to answer it But what answer can rationally be expected from these men who have not been so honest as to represent faithfully what I really and plainly published in that Testimony The next thing I observe is where thou clamours after this manner what Christ a propitiation for the sins of the whole world past present and to come and yet a generation pleading faith in it and not sheltered from the wrath of the Father thereby what incongruous work is this I answer the one propitiatory sacrifice of the body of Christ is not the less sufficient in it self to have been a propitiation for the sins of the whole world and so to have sheltered even all mankind from the wrath of the Father Gods love and this great propitiation set forth by him was large enough even for this though it prove not so to unbelievers and hypocrites The Apostle spoke truth 1 John 2. 2. of Jesus Christ the righteous he is a propitiation for the sins of the whole world and our Lord also spoke truth of himself John 3. 36. He that believes not the wrath of the Father abides on him and in effect I have expressed no more then what those Scriptures holds forth Hence I say who but one like thy self who dares even call the Scriptures themselves contradictory durst thus boldly reckon this doctrine of Christ and his Apostle incongruous In the end of the 2 Page repeating some of my words thou tels me there is a supposition and question of thy own forming and then presently thou concludes it a doctrine of some others and then thou adds it is a smiting of the Quakers in the dark I answer I did not assert that supposition and question to be a doctrine maintained by some others but I proposed them as necessary consequences of a Doctrine a little before mentioned in that part of my Book to wit of that doctrine which asserts that redemption is not of sinners that delight in sin but of a light or seed within to be raised and redeemed within to which the promise of redemption is which seed is the seed of Abraham to whom the promise is which Jesus Christ takes upon him after the flesh A Doctrine mentioned in a Book often printed and published by and among you called Love to the Lost pa. 46. 47 48. But that which thou dares not meddle with lest thy speech should bewray thee now I offer it to the understanding Reader whether this question may not pertinently be proposed to the maintainters of that Doctrine Is the Seed or Christ within so under condemnation and the Curse that he needs to be redeemed therefrom and if this Seed or Christ be not saved in every man doth it remain in some for ever under condemnation Thy Partner G. K. in the 16. Page answers thus We say indeed that the Seed suffers under fin and is to be raised from under it yet the soul yea and the whole man is also to be saved within but the seed is not for ever under condemnation for though for a time it suffers yet in the time appointed of God it is raised up in all yea in the most ungodly to minister in them wrath without mercy This Doctrine G. K. asserts but it agreeth not with the Scriptures speaking thus That Christ died for sinners the whole need not the Physitian but the sick for a good man one may even dare to die but Christ died for the ungodly By what Scripture can he prove that Christ died for a seed in man which needed redemption which seed is Christ in every man and that Christ suffers under sin in every man and is to be raised from under it for if so he came to redeem himself in every man who never consented to sin so not the man the sinner that was under condemnation and the curse and delighted in sin But consider the words of Isay Isa 53. 6. We all like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all and this Peter testifieth 1. Ep. 2. 24. He who did no sin his own self bare our sins in his own body on the Tree how expresly doth these Scriptures refute that assertion of G. K. neither can he show any Scripture to prove that the man Jesus Christ doth bear our sins but as he did bear them in his crucified body when he suffered for us the just for the unjust of which I shall write more fully in answer to G. K. his part And whereas he saith The Seed is raised in the most ungodly in Gods appointed time to minister wrath in them without mercy he should have expressed himself whether he understands by ungodly men and women and whether this Seed which he calls Christ or this ministration of wrath raised in them without mercy be after their bodily death for if so the worm in Devils and damned persons that never dieth is Christ in them G. K. should prove this confused Doctrine of his by the Scriptures or keep it to himself And since he saith the Soul is also to be saved within and the whole man what an imperfect account doth he express in this matter as if the full and compleat redemption and salvation purchased by Christ and in hope waited for by believers were only a salvation or a being saved from sin within wherein he is reproved by the Apostle Rom. 8. 23. We have the first fruits of the spirit waiting for the redemption of our body we are saved by hope we do wait in patience for it yet these Saints thus waiting for the redemption hoped for already witnessed in measure a being saved from sin within And for him to say the soul is to be saved how doth it agree with the Doctrine published by G. F. in a Book Intituled The great mystery of the great
old of those false witnesses who bore Testimony against the Person of our Lord so may it also be said of you who have joyned your selves against my Testimony both to his Person and Doctrine And their witness agreed not together But to help thee out of this strait that thou mayst joyn hands again with thy Brethren turn to the 8. Pa. of thy Book where repeating these words out of my Book viz. That there is another snare that carrieth death in the bosome of it and it is that spirit that publisheth that the light in every man is the true Christ our only Saviour and there is not another And that man is to be joyned to this light which of it self is able to redeem him as he becomes obedient thereunto To all which thou adds these words here with open mouth thou smites against our Principle then surely by thy confession this must be thy Principle and if so thou plainly contradicts thy self for here is no mention of Christs death in the outward nor any room left for any such necessary respect our Redemption hath thereunto that being a part of that snare to pretend to Redemption without any such necessary respect to the death of Christ In the 8. page thou argues against me from some of my words thus Thou sayest light and power in Christ considered as distinct from his being a man and the light in every man as he comes into the World asserted to be he the true Christ is to assert another Saviour then him Jesus Christ of Nazareth born of Mary and yet thou expresly pleads for Christ being formed within men who of the weakest discerning cannot see thy self-contradiction here I answer thou art reproved by the Apostles who plainly testified that the same Jesus whom the Jews Crucified is both Lord and Christ and there is not another and yet also pleaded that Christ might beformed in them By the first telling us who the true Christ was and is the man Christ Jesus of Nazareth the same Jesus whom the Jews Crucified In the other expression they tell us how we partake of his nature to wit by his being formed within us called Christ within the hope of glory Christ dwelling in us by Faith Now thou jumbles and confounds these not dividing the word of truth aright The man Christ Jesus of Nazareth to be the true and only Christ thou dost not confess which the Apostles plainly did Christ as formed within the hope of glory dwelling in us by Faith as manifest within us this manifestation of him as in us thou calls the true Christ our only Saviour which the Apostles never did Thus setting thy self to speak contrary to the Apostles thou dares boldly though blindly call their plain positive Assertions Contradictions And sutable to this thy Doctrine is thy Confession of Christ in the 13. page in these words We believe and acknowledg him who was manifest in that body of flesh to be he the true and only Christ This is a new coined Confession differing and quite another then that of the Apostles in these words 16. Matth. 16. Thou art not he that is manifest in that body of thine but thou art the Son of the living God and after his being ascended and glorified they confess him in these words Acts 2. 36. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus not him that was manifest in that body of flesh but the same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ Is it because he was hanged on a tree that thou art ashamed to own him as Saviour Or that thou dost not believe that God raised him from the dead or rather art thou afraid to confess him because of the Pharisees lest they should put thee out of their Synagogue as they have done some others because they openly confessed him Oh consider the words of our Lord Luke 12. 8 9. Whosoever shall confess me not him in me but me before men him shall the Son of man not him in the Son of Man considered as distinct from him a man also confess him before the Angels of God But he that denyeth me to wit the Son of Man shall be denyed before the Angels of God Dost thou think that thou hast found out a better manner of expressing this truth then the Apostles had or dost thou not really change their Doctrine by thy new coyned manner of expressing it for by the Apostles the Man is acknowledged as Saviour That same Jesus whom ye Crucified a man approved of God among the people unto you this day is born a Saviour Jesus there is one Mediatour the man Christ Jesus by man came death by man came also the Resurrection of the dead By thee the man is left out and shuffled by not confessing him the Son of Man as the Apostles ever did to be he but him to wit the God-head considered as distinct from his being a man that was manifest in that body of Flesh to be he the true and only Christ our Mediatour which the Apostles never did herein agreeing with the Doctrine of H. W. a Preacher among you who in a Book intituled A Declaration to the Baptists pag. 13. tells plainly Christ was never seen with any carnal eye nor his voice heard with any carnal ear hereby plainly denying him to be the Son of Man who as of purpose to rebuke this lying Spirit testified of himself that he was both seen and heard by the bodily eyes and ears of those among whom he conversed John 9. 35. he saith to the man that was born blind Dost thou believe on the Son of God he answered and said Who is he Lord that I might believe on him And Jesus said unto him thou hast both seen him and it is he that talketh with thee Mark this if our Lord spoke truth he whom this man both saw and talked with with his bodily eyes and tongue was the Messias the Son of God And since he was ascended and glorified Acts 9. was it not the true Christ Jesus of Nazareth who appeared and spoke unto Saul as he was going with his Persecuting companions to Damascus he said so of himself I am Jesus of Nazareth yet it is added in the 9. verse and the men which journeyed with him stood speechless hearing a Voice but seeing no man Thus that Jesus whom the Apostles Preached and believed in as the true Christ the Son of God was both seen and heard by the bodily eyes and ears of unbelievers And hence Peter 1 Epistle chap. 7. ver 8. writes thus to Believers elect through the Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience who therefore in and by Faith had seen him Faith being the evidence of things not seen yet to such he saith that the tryal of your Faith might be found unto praise at the appearing of Jesus Christ whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce And hence our
for the taking away of sin as quite useless and unprofitable to us as to our Redemption Justification or Salvation as a name and thing done abroad that avails nothing at all leaving out even the very Parenthesis of thy Partners to wit that Christs sufferings and example had a tendency thereunto wherein thou hast outdone them all Another exception of thine was in these words so it is contrary to Scripture to say Christ came in the weakness of our flesh that came by sin It is blasphemy to say Christ came in the weakness of our flesh My answer was surely either passion hath blinded thee or a cloud of thick darkness hath vailed thee how dare thou thus charge the Apostles as blasphemers who said of Christ he was made of a Woman made under the Law came in the likeness of sinful flesh partaked of flesh and bloud was hungry weeped was touched with the feeling of our infirmities and gave up the Ghost are not these weaknesses of our flesh and I may add such as came by sin too Another charge was That I write of the child born according to the flesh to wit of Jesus Christ the Son of Mary There should be no end of his Government contrary to the Scripture that saith he suffered death and continued not many years upon earth My answer was I assert according to the Scriptures that the Son that was conceived in the womb of broughtforth by Mary he shall Reign over the House of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end and doth it in thy understanding make void his Government because he suffered death tell plainly did the Grave hold him did his flesh see corruption did he not rise from the dead and if so art thou not in union with those who gave money to the Souldiers to hire them to say that his Disciples came by night and stole him away Another charge was That I assert out of the natural seed of David is the Saviour which is blasphemy contray to the Scriptures which say he was without beginning and end of dayes and who could tell his Generation which it seems thou seeks to count My answer was that out of the man Davids seed God hath according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour Jesus and is this blasphemy with thee then surely the Apostles were blasphemers And if I did count his Generation so did Matthew and Luke Now in answer to that part of my Letter published by thee I do asert again that in those Scriptures mentioned by thee it is not said who the true Christ was or is but what and how he is in Believers as thus if Christ be in you he that hath the Son hath life greater is he that is in you c. The question still remains who is he that is thus in us and how is he in us Thou sayest It is thy mistake to say that Christ in believers is but the operation of his spirit in us not he the operator I answer tell plainly is the anointing in us as in us he the anointed one are the motions of his Spirit as in us he the mover are the gifts and graces of the Spirit in us he the giver of them I own that the man Christ Jesns of Nazareth is the Operator and Author of Faith in us but are faith hope meekness c. as they are in us he the Son of man the Author of them how darkly dost thou write of these things not according to the Holy Scriptures though agreeing with the Doctrine of W. B. a Teacher among yon in his Book intituled from the spirit of truth to all persecuting enemies 39. pag. saying humility meekness in the heart of Gods child is a Mediatour to asswage and stop the wrathful anger which lieth in the enmity-seed and it is the Lamb of God in whom he is well-pleased that takes away the sin to whom the Soul is to hearken as a true Prophet guide and Saviour And this is like the Doctrine asserted by G. F. in his Book already mentioned p. 257. in these words That which humbles people which brings down sin is the humility which bears the sin and iniquity which is Christ Is there in the whole Scriptures any mention made of such Doctrine nay verily it is quite another and indeed a plain denying of the Testimony of the Prophets and Apostles joyntly testifying to the man Jesus of Nazareth as the only Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree and there is not another man name or thing ever in Scripture called the Lamb of God which takes away sin but he the man Christ the very mentioning these things is enough to refute them among such with whom the Scriptures have any credit I wish for thy own sake thou hadst not joyned with these men against my Testimony nor after this manner against thy old Friend R. G. GEORGE WHITE-HEAD THou art the last Man I meet with of this Company who have joyned your selves together against my Testimony And thy part in this matter is that of a clamorous Woman having only brought forth a meer Libel stuffed with a parcel of scurrilous expressions which I pass by as not fit to be repeated among sober persons however it sufficiently manifests whose Off-spring thou art and whence thy work is But to give the Reader some account of thy Spirit by thy work let this be considered I find thee very forward in fashioning my words at thy pleasure to make them appear contradictions which are really no further so then as snch as thy self might reckon the Scriptures of truth to be But consider thy own words in a Book Printed 1669 intituled Christ ascended above the Clouds in the Preface being an answer to one J. N. The main subject of this J. N. in his Book is to prove the light in every man not to be Christ which he should not need to have done until it had been so affirmed by us for though we do affirm a spiritual divine light of God and his Son to be in every man yet it is not our principle to say Christ is in every man or that every man hath the Son Now read over thy words p. 16. of thy part speaking Thus of me let the impartial Reader judge of R. G. his confusion and ignorance not owning the light that lightens every man to be Christ or the Son of God contrary to the Scriptures O strange be ashamed was it never affirmed before the year 1669 by any of the Ministry among the Quakers That the light in every man is Christ That Christ is in every man if this man honestly intends what he hath asserted without any mental reservation wherewith at his pleasure to twist his words meaning another thing then plainly he expresseth Then surely I suppose there may be so much honesty in G. F. to rebuke him openly and bring him
Christianity Vindicated OR The Fundamental Truths of the Gospel concerning the Person of Christ and Redemption through Faith in Him maintained AGAINST The Cavils and Groundless Exceptions of Andrew Robeson and George Keith Gawen Lawrie and George White-head Who are called by the Name of Quakers BEING A Reply to a Book published by these Men in Opposition unto a Book Intituled A Testimony to the true Saviour By ROBERT GORDON Author of the said Testimony 1 Tim. 4. 1 2. But the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits speaking lyes in hypocricie 1 John 4. 1. 3. Believe not every spirit for every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God 1 John 2. 22. Who is a Lyer But he that denyeth that Jesus is the Christ he is the Antichrist John 20. 31. But these things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through him LONDON Printed for Robert Boulter at the Turks-head in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange 1671. THE PREFACE TO THE Christian Reader HAving lately published a Book intituled A Testimony to the true Saviour the tendency whereof was to bear witness in these latter and dangerous times as concurring with and consenting unto the voices of all the Prophets and Apostles in the dayes of old To the man Christ Jesus of Nazareth as the Lords Christ and our only Saviour And unto reconciliation justification and redemption as already in being in him purchased compleated and perfected with God for sinners by the price of his whole intire and perfect obedience to his Fathers will in his crueified body without us to be made effectual by the workings and operations of his Spirit in all such who through faith in him receive that attonement And hence rejecting the errours which tend to the darkening or denying of those blessed truths so plainly testified unto in the holy Scriptures among whomsoever they were lodged without reflection upon any persons or people whatsoever The great opposition and contradiction raised against this my Testimony and the reproach thrown upon me because of it fully satisfies me that a publick Testifying unto those truths was and is both seasonable and necessary A faithful account of the exceptions brought by these Four Men against this Doctrine of Christianity and therewith of the Principles of truth testified unto in the holy Scriptures by the Prophets and Apostles whereby may be seen their agreement or difference with each other is the matter in this following Discourse where I do invite the Reader to be no farther concerned then as be is a Christian If their Book in answer to my said Testimony intituled by them The light of truth triumphing hath or shall come to thy view judge not of it by its fair title the nature of things doth not alwayes answer the names or inscriptions put upon them Hereticks of old have named themselves Orthodox there is nothing more common then for men to adora errours with the robes of truth and to deform truth with the rags of errours Therefore I would not have thee judge the better of these mens Doctrine because they have named it Light of truth triumphing Or the worse of what is asserted in my late Testimony because of the black mark of darkness ignorance errour and envy they have branded it with Wonder not that in these last times even Christianity it self in its very foundation the Person of our Lord Jesus who is that Rock upon whom it is built and faith in him as being the Son of Man now bodily glorified without us is struck at and denied and that among us in these Nations where so many years He as Saviour and faith in him for Salvation hath been openly owned and professed Which as it may be looked-upon as a just rebuke from the Lord against such among us who having long professed him in words yet have and do deny him in their conversations So it is also no less then what was plainly foretold by the Holy Apostles to come to pass in the last times to wit that some should depart from the faith even denying the Lord that bought them and that many should follow their pernicious waies And although these men who have thus appeared against my Testimony to the true Saviour are called by the name of Quakers as reckoning themselves of that Sect or Company yet let it not be so looked upon as if there were not many among those people who not knowing these depths of Satan as they speak are not in their understandings intangled in these errours and therefore every one being to give an account for himself of his own faith we are in charity no farther to determine upon persons among that people as carried away in this Apostacy from the faith as it was once delivered to the Saints then as they acknowledge and own it to be so each for himself But that there are some pretending to be Teachers among them and some others also making a fair shew under the disguise of the names of Light and power within thereby bringing in damnable errours to pervert the faith of some is too too manifest among whom these Four Men have numbred themselves by this their voluntary opposition they have raised of their own accord against the plain truth left to us upon record by the Prophets and Apostles and Testified unto by me Against whom I own no other opposition then in and by the Spirit and Doctrine of Truth to stop the mouthes of these and such gain-sayers Not any delight I have in re-joynders of this kind hath led me thus forth to take notice of these mens exceptions against the truth But their wresting and misapplying the words of the Holy Men of Old recorded in the Scriptures and jumbling the truths distinctly testified unto in them thereby among simple people to deface and darken the truth published by the Apostles and asserted by me by forcing them to appear as a heap of confusion and contradiction and there openly charging me as smiting in the dark and as it were daring me to speak more particularly hath forced and constrained mâ— for the very Truths sake to this reply therein to name the very books wherein and by whom these errours are asserted as truth that I might vindicate my Testimony to the blessed mystery of Christ crucified against these and such opposers so far as they appear against that mystery testifyed unto in it And that by removing all their exceptions against the truth I might in my measure assert and justifie the blessed harmony which is betwixt the perfect redemption that is already finished in Christ Jesus for us and the revelation of Him in us against unbelievers in this age who judging of this mystery by the reason of man cry out Confusion contradiction how can these things be so And that such who
thou denyes the true Christ I shall bring thy own words expresly denying that this light which enlightens every man that comes into the world is Christ and in the 17. page thou adds So John Preached him and so did others I answer thou should rather have added so G. F. Preached him and so have others among us called Quakers and this had been truly said as may be read in that Book already mentioned published by G. F. p. 16 19 20 22 45 47 94 102 279. And in another little Book published by G. F. Intituled A Catechism for Children throughout that Book But how dares thou write so of this holy man John or of any of the Penmen of the holy Scriptures who never so wrote of Christ neither canst thou show me one place of Scripture wherein it is asserted of Christ that the light enlightning every man that comes into the World as it is in every man as he is born of a Woman is he the true Christ and this thou must prove or thou proves nothing but asserts thy own and other mens vain aery notions It is true the Man Christ Jesus said of himself I am the light of the World but this proves not thy notion the light in every man as he comes into the World is he the true Christ Consider the words of Esayas 9. 2. The people that walk in darkness have seen great light they that dwell in the Land of the shadow of death upon them hath the Light shined Compare this with Math. 4. 14 15. And Jesus departed into Galilee and dwelt in Capernaum that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esayas saying the people which sate in darkness saw great light Thus the man Christ Jesus in his Person by his Doctrine and Miracles where he came and abode was a light to them that sate in darkness and hence he said of himself While you have the light believe in the light yet a little while is the light with you I the Son of Man who as long as I am in the World am the light of the World must be lifted up and be glorified with my Father for I go to my Father but I will not leave you comfortless I will send the Comforter unto you who shall receive of mine and shew it unto you he shall glorifie me Hence the Man Christ Jesus being ascended and bodily glorified by the ministration of his Spirit in the children of Faith causeth the light of his glorious Gospel to shine in their hearts And further though it be said Christ is our life in God we live and move and have our being and Christ is all in all and through all wilt thou therefore assert that our life is Christ that the life in all is God that all in us is God This agreeth indeed with that Doctrine published by G. F. in his Book already mentioned Page 91 229. The soul is a part of God of his being divine infinite in it self without beginning that God doth not change nor the Soul and every one turned to the Light they shall see Christ who brings the Soul up to God whereby they come to be one Soul And this is the very root of Rantisme hence concluding the life in man and beast yea in every thing to be God and all to be one God at last denying the real individual existences of Angels Saints Devils or wicked men in eternity and what these notions terminate in is sufficiently known Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall dye the earthly bodies perish and the Spirit Soul or Life of every thing comes to be all one Soul in God and so God is all in all And although it hath been said by some among you that these termes Christ is the Light and the Light in every man is Christ are convertible termes yet that is apparently fals and deceitful Philosophie for if so then what might be truly and properly spoken of the one might be also so spoken of the other for so it is with all propositions convertible And hence as it was truly and properly spoken of the man Christ our onely Saviour and the true Christ who is the Light of the world that he was born at Bethlehem that he was hanged on a Tree and gave up the Ghost might also be truly and properly spoken of the Light in every man that comes into the world as it is in every man which is most absurd I also acknowledg that it is said 1 John 1 9. of Christ Jesus That was the true Light which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illuminat enlighteth every man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 venientem coming into the world for so it is in the Greek in the present time enlighteth every man coming into the world and thus it agreeth with the purpose in the preceeding verses there was a man sent from God whose name was John he was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light thus testifying not onely of John the Baptist as Lighted by him whom he was sent to point out but that every man coming into the world to bear witness unto him Is also Lighted by him Christ Jesus who is the true Light although it be true that every man that cometh into the world as he is a man born of the seed of man through natural generation is enlined by Jesus Christ as he is the Word that made the World yet the Apostle hath not asserted it in this place of Scripture neither doth he here say that there is a Light in every man or that the enlighting in every man as he cometh into the World as he is a man is He the true Christ and it is a most miserable wresting this Place of Scripture to force it to speak thus that there is a Light in every man as he comes into the world by natural generation as an elect seed in him which is the true Christ and mans onely Saviour and thou hast belyed this Holy man in saying of him that he so preached to wit the Light or enlighting in every man as he comes into the world is He the true Christ In the 14 Pag thou mentions these words But that Law and nature by which the Gentiles did the things contained in the Law thou wilt not have it to be the Law and Nature of Christ but some other thing but what thou tels not I answer I said in the words of the Apostle 2. Rom. that it is the work of the Law written in their hearts and in every man as he cometh into the world whereby they which had not the Law to wit in Tables of Stone did by nature the things contained in the Law these not having the Law were a Law unto themselves It is a Law or enlightning planted in Mans nature by that word which created him a Man and without whch he differeth not from a beast hence it is not improperly called by some that universal reason that is in every
man as he is a man which also G. W. in pag. 6. seems to say of it And though man through his disobedience wholly lost fellowship and communion with God and hope of eternal life with a possibility under that Covenant of works through his future obedience of ever being restored yet he continued a man still even under all this loss and also enlightned by this Law though more darkly whereby he knew he had disobeyed his Maker and therefore was ashamed and hid himself and of which had he been utterly deprived he had ceased from being a man and so from being capable of condemnation or of receiving the promise of restoration of which he knew nothing by this enlightning remaining in him untill God published it to him by promising him the Messias the Womans feed to break the Serpents head for that Law as thou acknowledges pag 10. in these words only condemns him and gives him the knowledge of sin This Law or enlightning thus planted in mans nature by creation is by generation conveyed into every man as the comes into the world and is hence called by Solomon 20. Chap. Proverbs 27. verse The Spirit of man which is the Candle of the Lord searching the inward parts of his belly and of the spirit of man the Prophet 12. Zach. 1. writeth thus Thus saith the Lord which stretcheth forth the Heavens and layeth the foundation thereof and formeth the spirit of man within him hence this Law in every man as it is in every man is that which God hath formed therefore of it the Apostle truly and properly hath spoken they do by nature the things contained in the Law as being born of the seed and after the kind of man they are naturally or by nature men so being born of the seed of man they do naturally or by nature the things contained in the Law the work of the Law being written in their hearts as they are men hence this Law or enlightning in every man as he comes into the world being the formed spirit of man enlightned by him that made it Is not God that formed it the word by which the world was made as G. F. in that Book above mentioned pag. 185. asserts neither is it the word manifest in flesh as G. W. asserts pag. 3. So what pag. 6. he would have to be right reason in pag. 3. with him is God manifest in flesh Neither is it the end of the Law the Saviour the Mediator the Righteousness of God the foundation of God as G. F. in that Book already named pag. 9. 57. 102. 168. and 277. asserts for by these assertions the creature is and is worshipped instead of him the creator who is God blessed for ever wherefore if it be not too late I would have these men consider the words of the Lord spoken by Esayas 50. 11. Behold all ye that kindle a fire that compass about your selves with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled this shall ye have of my hand ye shall lie down in Sorrow And although by this Law or enlighting in every man he is capable to receive the glad tydings of the Gospel when preached to him through the promised seed of the Woman yet it is not he the promised seed neither is it the light of the Gospel shining in our hearts by faith as G. W. would have it to be pag. 6. Neither is it Christ within the hope of glory nor the word of faith nor the ingrafted word within that is able to save the Soul though it be that which receives it and where it abides when received though thou seems so to assert in thy Book Yet neither thou nor any of you have proved or can prove what you have so asserted by the Scriptures of truth And although by this Law in every mans nature the eternal power and God-head may be known by the things that are made and equity and sobriety among men may be observed yet the glorious Gospel shining in our hearts by faith is not thereby discerned although G. W. pag. 6. so affirmeth of it asserting as much as if right reason in every man as becomes into the World by natural generation discerneth the light of the glorious Gospel which if so why is the word of faith preached how comes faith by hearing and indeed to what end was the Comforter the spirit of truth promised and sent to reveal this Mistery and how is it foolishness to the wisdom and reason of the Greeks But I find it not so asserted in the Scriptures of truth of this Law in every man as he comes into the World that it discerneth or discovereth to man the purpose of grace that was in God before the world began preached to Adam foretold by the Prophets typified under the Law pointed out by John the fore-runner whom last of all his Apostles preached as do all his Ministers in all Ages proclaiming this message of Gods love to the world not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life all in one joynt voice pointing to this Jesus the Son of Mary this Son of man with an Hosanna to this Son of David and to none before him or to any ever since Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world a voice not heard among you of the Man Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary as now existing outwardly bodily without us but applyed by some among you to meekness humility and the like within you Therefore not the Law in every man as he comes into the world but the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus shining in the hearts of Believers manifests to them the Saviour Jesus and Salvation through faith in him That being graven in the heart of a man as he is a man this being revealed only by that Spirit which the world never saw nor can receive as the Apostle plainly asserts 1 Cor. 2. 9 10 14. And hence these Laws are not therefore one and the same because both of them are written in the heart the one being within man as he is a man the other as he is a believer And as these Laws are different so the teachings of them differ hence the Apostle saith doth not even nature it self teach as being far below the teachings of the new Covenant the teachings of this Law in every man either as in every man or as outwardly administred leading no farther then as it was said of old eye for eye tooth for tooth what you would not men should do unto you that do ye not unto them But when he came who brought in a better Covenant a more glorious Law even that of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus he preached a higher Doctrine But I say unto you love your enemies bless them that curse you
that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved But that this Law in every man as he comes into the world is this word of faith that I deny and thou hast not proved it for Faith comes by hearing not by natural generation And further concerning the seed which is Christ the Apostle 3 Gal. 16. saith To Abraham and to his seed were the promises made he saith not to seeds as to many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ thus Christ as he is the seed of Abraham is the one seed to whom the promise belongs what the promis was we have it in the 8. ver in thee shall all the nations be blessed in the 3. Acts 25. Peter mentions this promise as spoken of that Jesus whom the Jews delivered up in the presence of Pilate not otherwise do I find in Scripture Jesus Christ called the seed to whom the promise belongs And this unscriptural Doctrine the Light in every man as he comes into world to be Christ a seed within hath hatched among us of late these and such assertions from among you the light the seed within is Christ then I am he that speaketh Then Hosanna The Son is equal with the Father I witness the Son in me so I witness equality with the Father the light in me is Christ Christ is the word by which the world was made then it was said of Christ that he was in the world and the world was made by him the world knew him not so it may be said of this Prophet G. F. as is said by S. E. in his Paper intituled the Quakers challenge pag. 6. Christ is the way the truth and the life Christ is in me and must he not say where he is I am the way the truth and the life he that hath the same spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead is equal with God Jesus Christ the Mystery passed before the same spirit takes upon it the same seed where it is manifested as is mentioned in the Book intituled Sauls errand to Damascus pag. 7. 8. which of all the Saints of old ever so spoke or wrote But herein among you are fulfilled the words of our Lord saying fals Christs shall arise and many shall say I am Christ Lastly I do also acknowledge that Men and Women who are of the Faith of Abraham are called and are the seed of Abraham And thus they are the brethren and Sisters of our Lord who that he might be their Elder brother a real man took part of flesh and bloud by being the one seed of Abraham and David according to the flesh And this agreeth with the whole tendency of the Gospel viz. that man not only something in man fell from God through disobedience that men thus dead in sins and trespasses who delighted in sin needed Redemption not something in men that never consented to sin that the redeemer of Man was and also is a real man not only something in man Thus having answered thy chief Objections against my Testimony and by asserting the plain ' truth according to the Scriptures clearly manifested how far different from and contrary unoâ— the foundation The Apostles and all the Saints of old built upon for Salvation that Doctrine is which thou hast declared of I find thee in the 15. pag. framing a pretence whereby thou mayest seem to go off with some credit telling me that I made a man of straw and then knocks him down that my Book is almost wholly spent in proving that which none of you deny to wit that Christ is come in the flesh suffered and died But this is such a pitiful covering that thou mayest be seen through it by the weakest discerning as not able to deal with the strength of that which I have Testified unto as indeed it is too hard for thee for as I have already told thy partner A. R. that was not any part of my work no not in any part of all my Book But since thou seeks a hole to creep out at I am willing to let thee go only in love to thee I advise thee to search the Scriptures for I find thee very ignorant of the truth as testified in them and hence asserting new notions which thou hast received from other men which tend to the darkning and denying of the joynt Testimony of all the holy men of old to the true Saviour and to Salvation through faith in him And that thou mayest be delivered from this dangerous snare and yet build up in thy self and others those truths which by this thy work thou hast opposed and contradicted is the hearty desire of thy Friend R. G. GAWEN LAWRIE I Am next to deal with thee whom I also find joyned with the rest against my Testimony and I am to remember thee that thou hast thrust thy self among this Company by communicating to others my private Letter written to thee as my Friend without my knowledge or consent thence to bring forth in print what could be squeezed out of it to my disadvantage tending as my words are forced to speak to no less as you say then an owning another Mediatour or Saviour then Jesus Christ of Nazareth but who or what that other Saviour is I am not told But to let thee and others know that I am not ashamed of what I have written to thee and that I am able to free my self from that groundless aspersion through thee cast upon me I have here set down what was most material in those Objections thou didst send me in writing against my Testimony with my answers thereunto and let the impartial Reader judge which of us either pleads for or against Jesus Christ of Nazareth as being the true Christ and our only Saviour In thy Letter thou writes these words I find thy mind in this Book abroad gathering in the comprehension what thou fancies and hast heard of others so heaps up confusion and contradiction what will avail thee or me that we know abroad of things done abroad nothing at all if ever thee or I come to know true peace we must come to know the life that quickens it is not names nor things done without but the life within that redeems that purgeth that sanctifies that quickens the Soul to God Now consider what is testified by the Prophets and Apostles concerning the the man Christ Jesus without them a name and thing abroad concerning whom and what he did for Man-kind thou sayest it being a name and thing done abroad redeems not the Soul to God avails nothing at all while these Saints of old prophesied of pointed out spoke of and believed in him for Redemption they saw and believed and left it upon Record to us and their report is true that we also who have not seen might believe and be blessed and in effect in that one word thouhast made the coming death sufferings and Resurrection of the Man Christ and that one sacrifice