Quakers would be so far from directing Men to go to the Material Temple That they make it a vain thing to look to Jerusalem to the Antitype of that Temple viz. To Jesus Christ as he was there Crucified or unto that Blood that was there Shed for Justification p. 24. G. Whitehead answereth The Quakers see no need of directing Men to the Type for the Antitype viz. Neither to the outward Temple nor yet to Jerusalem either to Jesus Christ or his Blood knowing that neither the Righteousness of Faith nor the Word of it doth so direct Rom. 10. And a few Lines after he saith And where do the Scriptures say The Blood was there shed for Justification and that Men must be directed unto Jerusalem for it Query II. Hath he now in Heaven the same Body though now changed in Qualities and Glorify'd which he assum'd in the Womb of the Blessed Virgin in which he Suffer'd Died was Buried Rose again and Ascended outwardly In Answer to this take John Whitehead's Words in his Postscript to a Book call'd The Quakers Refuge pag. 90.41 I have several times saith he deny'd that Christ hath now a Body of Flesh and Bones circumscript or limited in that Heaven which is above and out of every Man on Earth Again he saith ibidem Christ hath a Body or is in a Body suitable to his Spirit consisting of Heavenly Flesh and Bone Also he saith Wheresoever the Spirit and Life of Christ is that is in the Body of Christ Note As he owneth that Christ has a Body that is not the Church yet he owneth no other Body of his besides his Church that is circumscript or limited out of every Man on Earth Now by John Whitehead's Words it plainly appeareth either that Christ hath not that real Body he had on Earth which was Crucify'd c. or if he hath it is such as not only every one of the Saints but every Man yea and every Creature hath he denying it to be circumscript or limited And is not this a fair Inlet to the Popish Doctrine of the real Presence of Christ's Body that suffered to be in the consecrated bread as they imagine Query III. Will he return in that same Body Outwardly or without Men to judge the World c Answer To this George Whitehead's Words in his Book before-mentioned call'd The Life and Light of Christ within page 4 1. are a fit Reply whereby to give us an Account of his Belief or rather Unbelief in this weighty Fundamental Doctrine of the Christian Faith But three Comings of Christ saith George Whitehead not only that in the Flesh at Jirusalem and that in the Spirit but also another Coming in the Flesh yet to be expected we do not read of but a second Coming without Sin unto Salvation which in the Apostles Days was looked for And one John Newman whom George Whitehead answereth in his Book call'd Christ ascended above the Clouds having said from Rev. 1.7 Those that pierced him in his Body of Flesh shall see that Body visibly come again To this George Whitehead answereth These are not the Words of Scripture but added although to add or diminish be forbidden under a Penalty Rev. 22.18 19. yet this Man's Presumption leads him to incurr that See also for Answer to him Rev. 1.7 8. and 13 14 16. in none of which is Jesus Christ either call'd or represented as a Body of Flesh visibly to come again but that he is Alpha and Omega the first and the last And Christ in the Days of his Flesh wherein he visibly appear'd to the World said Yet a little while and the World seeth me no more John 14. and 19. But his second Coming and Appearance without Sin unto Salvation I own and witness page 21 22 of that Book and page 23. So where they add the Word Personal or his coming again or Personal Being do they not herein shew their carnal Expectations c And George Whitehead in his Answer to William Burnet The Light within c. page 40. replyeth to two places of Scripture brought by William Burnet to prove Christ's Coming again without us to judge the Quick and the Dead where he answereth in these express Words And as to that 1 Thes 4.17 which William Burnet brings to prove that Christ shall come in the latter end of the World from Heaven above the Clouds Now in p. 15. it 's said that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of our Lord now I ask saith George Whitehead if they did live and remain to a Personal Coming of Christ in the Clouds yea or nay or can it be reasonably thought to be a Coming that is not yet that they lived and remained unto c. And in Answer to that other place of Scripture which William Burnet had brought to prove the Resurrection of the deceas'd Saints after the Bodily Death George Whitehead saith again that the Dead in Christ shall arise first we own to be an Effect of Christ's Coming and know that there is a Dying in Christ and being Baptized unto his Death before a Coming forth or Rising in the likeness of his Resurrection c. And a little after saith But to know the said States what it is to Die with Christ to be conformable unto his Death and to partake of the Power of his Resurrection these things are hid from that Eye that is Carnal c. Note He grosly perverteth and misapplyeth these Scriptures only to an inward Dying and Rising with Christ and to his inward Coming into the Saints But though the inward Work of Mortification and an inward Death and Rising is to be own'd and which I find not that William Burnet in his Words deny'd and is according to the Scriptures Testimony and the Saints Experience yet surely to understand these above-mentioned places of Scripture of that inward Dying and Rising and inward Coming of Christ in the Saints is a gross Perversion and Misapplication of Scripture yea and a gross Abuse of it especially when it is brought by George Whitehead on purpose to contradict William Burnet's Assertion held in common by all sincere Christians viz. That Christ is as visibly to Come again as he did visibly Ascend and that the Bodies of the Dead Saints shall be Raised And George Whitehead's Reason that he brings to refute William Burnet's sound Assertions in this matter is most weak and impertinent As because Christ said John 14.19 Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more which he brings to contradict Christ's coming againg in Person without us to judge the World It proveth no such thing as that he should never at any time appear to the World for he limits it for a little time that they shou'd not see him And the Greek Word or Particle may be well translated not as yet as it is elsewhere translated And what a trifling and empty Reason brings he to prove that 1 Thes 4.17 is not to be understood of
Christ's Personal Coming yet to be as because Paul said we that are alive and remain c. as if therefore Paul did not mean any Outward or Personal Coming of Christ in that place George Whitehead asking If they did live and remain to a Personal Coming of Christ in the Clouds yea or nay or can it be reasonably thought to be a Coming that is not yet that they lived and remained unto For if George Whitehead had not been greatly blinded and darken'd with Prejudice against this great Fundamental Doctrine of the Christian Faith viz. The Coming of our Lord in his glorify'd Person and Body he might have easily perceived how the Apostle Paul used the Word Wee for They by a common Enallage Personae that is used both in Scripture elsewhere and in other Writers commonly as when James saith herewith speaking of the Tongue curse we men and yet James himself was no Curser Like to this place in 1 Thes 4.17 is that 1 Cor. 15.51 Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed which place however some pervert and misapply as if the Change of the living Saints at Christ's outward appearance at the end of the World were not there meant but some inward Change that the Saints had witnessed before Death is certainly to be understood of the Change of the Saints Bodies who then should be found alive at Christ's outward Coming as generally all found Christians have understood these places of Scripture and as I desire to praise God I have always so understood them And it is too great Evidence of George Whitehead's not being taught and guided by the Spirit of Truth in his opposing such sound Christian Doctrine and plain Testimonies of the Holy Scripture which every Babe in Christ doth better understand than this high Pretender to high Divine Illuminations George Whitehead by his thus opposing found Christian Principles belonging to the Fundamentals of Christian Religion hath laid great Stumbling-Blocks in the way of many that read his Books who conclude it cannot be that George Whitehead is so taught and led by the Spirit of Truth as he pretends seeing he contradicts such manifest Truths so plainly laid down in Scripture And George Whitehead would do well to consider his own Words pag. 36. of that oft-cited Book The Light and Life c. where he saith The Spirit brings to the fulfilling of the Scriptures and doth not destroy the Truth contain'd in them Therefore I say the Spirit that set him on Work to destroy the Truth of Christ's outward Coming to Judgment at the great Day and other great Truths declar'd in the Scriptures is not the true Spirit that gave it forth And here again I cannot but a little take notice how though very severely George Whitehead blamed I. N. for affirming That those that pierced Christ in his Body of Flesh shall see that Body visibly again alledging that these are not the Words of Scripture but added although to add or diminish be forbidden under a Penalty yet this Man's Presumption leads him to incurr that And yet George Whitehead in his late Answer to these Queries useth the Word Visibly with respect to Christ's Ascension saying Article 2 d. of that Paper That be to wit Christ visibly Ascended into Heaven and was received into Glory Now I am sure there is the same ground in Scripture for his visible Appearance and Coming again as there is for his visible Ascending But it is worthy of Observation that though George Whitehead professes in his late Answer to these Queries his belief that Christ visibly Ascended into Heaven yet he no where in all the Paper nor any where else that I find doth openly and plainly declare his Faith that Christ shall visibly or outwardly appear at the Day of Judgment so as to be seen as an Object without Men. And though his Words in this his late Answer would seem to imply that he did so now believe for he saith and that this same Jesus Christ that was crucified shall so in like manner come as he was seen to go into Heaven in Power and great Glory c. Were George Whetehead ingenuous and not too much given to Equivocation in his way of Writing this might pass currant they being sound Scripture Words and according to Scripture But when we shall consider how when both John Newman and William Burnet did formerly bring these Words for a Proof of Christ's Outward and Personal Coming yet to be how George Whitehead turn'd off this very place of Scripture from Christ's Personal and Outward Coming â— Glory and wholly apply'd it to his inward Coming Allegorizing the Clouds to Clouds of Ignorance and Sin in Mens Hearts And that I do not find that George Whitehead hath made any publick Retractation of his said Perversion of this and other places of Scripture we have but too great ground not to judge this his Confession in his late Answer to be sincere For if he meant not in this his late Answer Christ's Outward and Personal Coming he but deceives his Reader and especially him or them who sent these Queries And if he means really Christ's Outward and Personal Coming he contradicts his former Prints wherein he hath so manifestly oppos'd it and yet he is so extremely confident of his former Books that he referrs to them and others for an Answer to these Queries as if all were sound wholsome Doctrine contain'd in them and as if he were not changed from his former Sentiments in the least Tittle or Punctilio But let us hear his own Words in Answer to John Newman in his Book call'd Christ ascended above the Clouds page 22. ad finem But saith George Whitehead the same Jesus as he was seen Ascend when a Cloud came and received him out of their sight who stood gazing Acts 1.9 10 11. it is said shall so come in like manner c. which tho' every like manner is not the same nor all the Clouds the same yet the same Jesus certainly cometh in like manner his Coming being in the Clouds And to let us know in what Clouds he meaneth Christ is Ascended above and in what Clouds he will appear above he giveth this Title in his Book in Answer to John Newman Christ ascended above the Clouds i. e. in his Divinity c. vindicated from the Cloudy Erroneous and Blasphemous Conceits of John Newman and his Brethren And all this wresting of the plain Scripture Words Acts 1.9 10 11. which John Newman brought to prove his Personal Coming and Appearance without Men George Whitehead makes to destroy if he could the Faith of that great Truth of Christian Doctrine viz. Christ's Outward Coming in his Glorify'd Nature and Person of Man to judge the whole World Therefore since George Whitehead hath told in Print in Answer to John Newman's bringing that palce of Scripture Acts. 1.9 10 11. This same Jesus c. shall so come in like manner That every
like manner is not the very same nor all Clouds the same and seeing George Whitehead has formerly oppos'd Christ's Personal Coming or his Coming in Person without us as a thing yet to be expected he ought to clear it what manner of Coming and what sort of Clouds he doth now understand to be intended in these Words Acts 1.9 10 c. For though it be a real Truth that Christ is Ascended above all Clouds of Sin and Ignorance and Errours as well in George Whitehead as in others yet I am well assured that was not the Sense intended by the Spirit of Truth in these Words nor was it the Sense of them that spoke these Words to the Disciples Query IV. Will our Dead Bodies then arise the same Bodies in Substance though altered in Qualities and Properties which we now have Answer Hear what George Whitehead hath said in Print in his Answer to Mat. Coffin about the Resurrection That may be a proper Reply to this Query in shewing George Whitehead's Unbelief and Errour as touching the Resurrection of the dead Bodies of Men. See his Book call'd The Light and Life of Christ within page 69. There is saith George Whitehead a Natural Body and there is a Spiritual Body and there are Bodies Celestial and Bodies Terrestrial The Sun Moon and Stars are Celestial Bodies but Birds Beasts and Fishes are Terrestrial Now you might reckon him a very Blind and Ignorant Man that should put no difference between the Bodies Celestial and those that are Terrestrial or that should reckon the Bodies of the Sun Moon and Stars and the Bodies of Birds Beasts and Fishes to be all one in Matter and Substance Note At this rate Christ's Body now in Heaven is not the same Body he had on Earth in no respect for if it be not the same in Substance i. e. Being or Essence it is not the same any other way considered For a great difference it is if one thing differ from another in Qualities and Properties or in their Modes and Modifications and one thing may differ from it-self with respect to divers Times States and Conditions But to say a thing is changed Substantially or Essentially is to say that thing is no more that thing in any respect but is annihilated For whatever Heavenly Excellency and Dignity Christ's Body had when it was upon Earth which may be in a true Sense acknowledged being Miraculously and Supernaturally conceiv'd and form'd by the Power of the Holy Ghost yet seeing Christ did both Eat and Drink and did Sleep and Hungred and Thirsted c. it is certain his Body had the Properties and Qualities of our Earthly Bodies otherwise how could he be said to be made like to us in all things but without Sin And seeing Mens Bodies are universally nourished with what they eat and drink and their Food by certain Digestions becomes a part of their Bodies the Excrementitious part being excepted we must needs think that Christ's Body was really Terrestrial i. e. had Terrestrial Qualities when it was upon Earth But now it is Heavenly endu'd altogether with Heavenly Qualities as the Bodies of the Saints will be at the Resurrection And it is false Philosophy to say the Bodies of Sun Moon and Stars are in kind quite other Substances from Earthly Bodies The more true Philosophy and Knowledge of Natural Things is that the Bodies of Sun Moon and Stars differ not Substantially or Essentially from Earthly Bodies otherwise they cou'd not nourish Earthly Bodies as they do Yea George Whitehead in his Book call'd The Malice of the Independent Agent rebuked page 17. Treating on the Body of Christ saith And we believing such a Change of the Glorious Body of Christ we do not thereby nor never did believe that the Body of Christ which suffer'd was annihilated and that his Flesh saw Corruption No such matter May there not be then saith he a very wonderful Change in the Body and yet the Substance not annihilated nor destroyed Note here how George Whitehead hath contradicted George Whitehead and how inconsistent is he with himself One while he is a very blind and ignorant Man according to George Whitehead's Philosophy That a Body that is Terrestrial and a Body that is Celestial are one in Substance Another while again by George Whitehead's Philosophy There may be a very wonderful Change in the Body viz. of Christ and yet the Substance not annihilated nor destroy'd And then I say why not also may there not be such a wonderful Change in the Bodies of the Saints and yet the Substance not annihilated nor destroyed And though the Scripture distinguisheth betwixt Bodies Terrestrial and Celestial yet it doth not say these visible Bodies of Sun Moon and Stars differ in Substance from Earthly Bodies George Whitehead hath not learned this sort of Doctrine either from the Letter of the Scripture or the Spirit of God that gave it forth or from true Reason but hath it either from his own dark Imagination or from the dark Imagination of other Men as dark and ignorant as himself I had not been so large thus to correct his false Philosophy but that he maketh use of it here and elsewhere to overthrow the Faith of that great Article of Christian Doctrine plainly testify'd in the Holy Scripture to wit The Resurrection of the Body But seeing George Whitehead in his Book called The Malice of the Independent Agent owneth or seemeth to own That Christ's Body he had on Earth is now in the Heavens and is not annihilated nor the Substance of it destroyed how comes it that he so peremptorily disputeth against Christ's Personal Existence and his Personal Coming again or Appearance or Personal Being alledging it implies him to be a Personal God or Christ like the Anthropomorphites and Muggletonians conceit of him and he Argues against any Limitation of Christ's Personal Existence or being at the Right-hand of God without all Men. But how George Whitehead will reconcile this to his Assertion in his Book call'd The Malice of the Independent Agent where he owns that Christ's Body of Flesh saw no Corruption but is in Being and not annihilated And in his Postscript to the said Book call'd The Malice of the Independent Agent he saith of Christ's Body Though it be Spiritual and Glorious yet a Body and therefore not in every place where God is To be Omnipresent is only proper to God and not to Bodies In my former printed Treatise call'd A short List of some of the Vile and Gross Errors of George Whitehead c. I noticed George Whitehead's Contradiction to John Whitehead about the Body of Christ But here I would have the Reader notice George Whitehead's Contradiction to himself in the two above-mention'd Books as if George Whitehead since he argued against the Personal Being of Christ without every Man had turn'd Anthropomorphite and Muggletonian for asserting that Christ hath a Body in Heaven that is not every-where But to assert that
Gross Error and Hypocrisie DETECTED IN GEORGE WHITEHEAD AND Some of his BRETHREN As doth appear from the disingenuous and hypocritical Answer he and some others have given to some Queries sent to the last Yearly Meeting of the People call'd Quakers in the Third Month 1695. by comparing the said Answer with the Printed Books of the said George Whitehead William Penn and John Whitehead Leading Men in the said Meeting wherein the great Inconsistency and Contradiction of their present late Answers to the Express Words and Sentiments of their Printed Books is discovered With a further Account of their vile and pernicious Errours By GEORGE KEITH LONDON Printed for Walter Kettilby at the Bishop's Head in St. Pauls Church-Yard 1695. TO THE FRIENDLY READER THE Method I propose in this following Treatise is First To set down the said Queries mentioned in the Title-Page Next The Answers given by George Whitehead and some of his Brethren and Sign'd by them Thirdly The Answers I have faithfully and sincerely collected out of the Printed Books of George Whitehead William Penn and John Whitehead that shew the great Inconsistency and Contradiction of their present late Answer to the express Words and Sentiments of their Printed Books The which Answers will also give a farther Account of their vile and pernicious Errors opposite to some Fundamental Articles of the Christian Faith And here I would have the Reader to understand That if these Men had by their late Answers contradicted their former Sayings and Sentiments from any sincere Conviction and professed Acknowledgment of the vile and gross Errors boldly asserted by them in their Printed Books I should have been so far from charging of them with Hypocrisie for their so doing that I should have commended their Ingenuity But they are so far from any such Acknowledgment that in their late Answer they referr to the Answer given by them in Publick to the Objections made against them in Publick Now it is plain that by their Answer made in Publick they mean their Answer and Doctrine Sayings and Sentiments contain'd in their Printed Books so far are they from professing or owning any real Conviction they are under of their former vile Errors Though it is not improbable that some of them and particularly George Whitehead hath some contrary Apprehensions and Sentiments in divers of these weighty Matters to what he hath formerly with great Confidence asserted in Print as not only being his own Principles but the Quakers Principles Tho' I thank God those Vile Errors asserted by him in divers of his Printed Books and particularly in that most Antichristian Book call'd The Light and Life of Christ within c. in Answer to William Burnet and which he calls the Quaker's Principles were never my Principles and in Charity I am apt to believe nor the Principles of divers others that have with me gone under that Designation But it is easie to apprehend the Reasons why on supposition that George Whitehead and some other leading Men among them have chang'd their Sentiments of latter times to what they formerly Printed yet they are not so sincere as to own it and to retract in Publick their Errors expos'd in Publick even lest such Retraction or Correction should lessen and abate their Honour and Esteem among their too credulous Followers and Admirers who without all doubt have taken things too much on Trust from them and suffer'd themselves to be too much influenc'd and led by them into the same Errors as I have found by sad Experience how too many of them are guilty of the same Errors with their Leaders And George Whitehead and some others so highly pretending to the infallible Teachings and Leadings of the Spirit both in what they have Preached and Printed they loving the Praise of Men and seeking the Honour from below Pharisee-like and not regarding the Honour of God nor the Danger of Souls by those hurtful Errors wherewith they have poisoned Thousands If they should Retract or Correct what they have formerly Printed and is on publick Record wou'd seem so greatly to reflect on them and their high Pretences that they will rather seek to uphold their Honour and Repute among their Followers than Honour God or rescue Souls out of the Snare they have brought them into by a free Acknowledgment and Retraction But until they so do they can never have any true Character among sincere intelligent Persons who are acquainted with their Books but that they are great Hypocrites And however in some things of weight it is possible that George Whitehead and some others have chang'd their Sentiments yet I have no ground or reason to think otherwise but as touching divers weighty Matters of the Christian Doctrine and Faith he and they are still under great Blindness Darkness and Error Which that they may be recover'd from and brought to a true Sense and sincere Acknowledgment of is my real and sincere Desire And though some of them and particularly George Whitehead notwithstanding his pretended Smoothness at times have utter'd not only most bitter and injurious Speeches aginst me but false and lying Prophecies with a thus faith the Lord yet I can truly say I never felt any thing either in my Mouth or Heart to rise against any of them to render them Evil for Evil Cursing for Cursing but Good for Evil Blessing for Cursing knowing that all sincere Christians are call'd not to Curse but to Bless tho' it hath been too familiar with them so to do to many others in this as in other things wresting and perverting and misapplying some places of the Holy Scripture which mentions the sharp Words and Woes that Christ and some of the Prophets and Apostles gave forth against such as deserv'd them As if because Christ and the Prophets and Apostles did so Prophesie from an infallible Knowledge that these Persons against whom they so declared were guilty and the Woes they pronounced were really Prophetical that therefore they may do the like But as the Gifts and Miracles and Tongues are not George Whiteheads attainments so nor has he any just Ground to profess such an extraordinary Spirit of Discerning and Prophesie nor any at present I know on Earth Although the infalliable Teachings and Inspirations of the Holy Spirit I own with all true sincere Christians to teach us all Truth and lead us into all Truth that concerns the Salvation of our Souls as the common and universal Privilege of all the Faithful but not that Men should lay claim to such extraordinary things which they can give no satisfactory Evidence of far less to pour out bitter Curses and Woes and Prophesies against them who have deserv'd no such things But notwithstanding his bitter Words and false Prophesies against me I have great Comfort that I feel the Blessing of God upon me and the Witness of his good Spirit in my Heart sealing to the Favour of God towards me and his favourable accepting my Service and publick Opposition to
those vile Errors that not only too many in America did hold but George Whitehead and other leading Men among the People call'd Quakers here in England are as much guilty of and which by their unsound and hurtful Books they have led them in America and many others elsewhere into And here in the Close of this Preface and Introduction I think fit to add that which commonly goeth for George Whitehead's Curse he sent to me in Writing the same Day Month he and others gave out their False and Vnjust Sentence of Excommunication against me which by his means was gone abroad and was clandestinely handed about against me before I gave forth any Copy of it to any And let the Spiritual Reader that hath Salt in himself to savour withal savour and judge whether this his Prophesie or Curse as it may be called hath not come from a malicious Spirit full of Wrath and Enmity and doth not greatly bewray and discover his great Hypocrisie as well as Malice in charging me so much as he and they have in their Bull of Excommunication with bitter Expressions while he is so extremely Guilty himself persisting in his old way he hath used against some others that differed from him in other Matters calling them incarnate Devils Wolfs Dogs c. But I am sure neither he nor any can give any such Instance of my bitterness as he hath done in this his pretended Prophesie wherein I do really judge him as false a Prophet as Zedekiah was and they may be ashamed and he in particular to give these odious and uncharitable Names to many others having better Works and Fruits of Christianity than themselves of Baal's Prophets while several of themselves do more deserve such Designations The false Prophesie or Curse thus followeth And thus saith the Lord Because thou hast poured out great Contempt Scorn and Reproach upon my Servants and People I will assuredly pour out and bring great Contempt and Confusion upon thee Signed Geo. Whitehead TO THE QUAKERS Assembl'd in their YEARLY MEETING at LONDON this Whitsun-Week 1695. GReat Objections have been made against you in many Books which of late Years have been wrote as well by those who have departed from your Communion as by others But because we wou'd not willingly take an Account of you only from your Adversaries no nor yet the Advantage which may be had from some of your own Apologists We have chosen this Solemn Time of your most General Assembly that you have in the World when there came of your Number out of all Parts where any of your Profession live even as far as from the West-Indies on purpose to attend this your Yearly Meeting at London we have chosen this most proper and convenient Opportunity for you to vindicate and clear your selves and to give satisfaction to the World particularly to the Church of England as to these great and grievous Objections which are made against you It is said of you That as Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2.18 did construe the Resurrection Spiritually saying that it was perform'd Inwardly within us in our Souls and so avoided the Literal and Outward Resurrection of the Body which the Scripture calls overthrowing the Faith so that you do construe the Resurrection in the same Spiritual Manner To be the rising again of Christ or the Light in our Hearts and consequently that the Saints generally have attain'd the Resurrection already and that there will be no Resurrection of these our Bodies after they lie down in the Dust And not only this But that you construe likewise those Scriptures which testifie of our Lord Jesus Christ in this Allegorical manner to mean no more than what you call the Light within and that this Christ or Light is Born and Crucified Died is Buried Rises again Ascends and is Glorify'd within you that it sheds its Blood within you and thereby quenches the Wrath of God in you as your Sacrifice or Propitiation and that Christ has now no other Blood or Body than what he has within his Saint or others than he had with his Father before the World began That the outward Blood of that Man Jesus which was shed at Jerusalem was not the Propitiation or any Satisfaction to the Justice of God for our Sin But only the Spiritual Blood shed inwardly within us And by these means when you are ask'd Whether you believe in Christ that he Dy'd for our Sins Rose again and Ascended That by his Blood we are sav'd c. You can answer Yea That you believe all this and yet mean it all in an Inward and Allegorical Sence that is The Blood shed within you the Light or Christ suffering within you c. and thereby deceive others and your selves and keep your Meaning hidden and double that the Truth of what you hold may not be known which if in plain Terms told and asserted wou'd grate all Christian Ears and shew you to be those miserable Heraticks before-told who brought in Damnable Doctrines denying the Lord who bought them Therefore that you may clear your selves from this grievous Charge you are desir'd to give a plain positive and direct Answer to these following Queries Your Reasons or Explanations are not requir'd this not being intended for a Dispute but only your plain Yea and Nay to each of these Queries that your Doctrine and Faith may be known I. Do you believe in a Christ without you now in Heaven II. Hath he now in Heaven the same Body tho' now chang'd in Qualities and Glorify'd which he assum'd in the Womb of the Blessed Virgin in which he Suffer'd Dy'd was Bury'd Rose again and Ascended outwardly III. Will he return in the same Body outwardly or without Men to judge the World in the last Day IV. Will our dead Bodies then arise The same Bodies in Substance tho' alter'd in Qualities and Properties which we now have and shall lie down in the Dust Or do you believe an Outward or Literal Resurrection to come contrary to Hymeneus and Philetus Do you believe that the Saints generally or any of them have already attain'd the Resurrection either before or since Christ came into the World V. Do you believe that Christ or the Eternal Word was so made Flesh as that he truly and really became a Man as truly Man as he was God and not only as the Socinians say That he dwelt in or did inhabit the Person of that Man Jesus Christ as a Garment or a Veil as he dwells in or inspires other Holy Persons tho not in so high a degree or as Angels assume Bodies like Men wherein they appear without taking them into their own Nature or thereby becoming Men. VI. Is Christ now at this Day and for ever to come truly and really a Man in true and proper Humane Nature without all other Men VII Was his outward Blood outwardly shed at Jerusalem the true Propitiation and Satisfaction for the Sins of the World And is Faith in
them Thirdly If any slay the Life of Christ in them by their Sins doth not that hinder the Life to be a Sacrifice by Geo. Whitehead's Argument That the killing of Christ outwardly being the Act of wicked Men could be no meritorious Act Fourthly Where doth the Scripture say Christ offers up himself in his Children a Sacrifice for Sin Fifthly Is not this to make many Sacrifices or at least to say that Christ offers himself often yea Millions of times contrary to Scripture that saith Christ offer'd up himself once Sixthly Why could no beast under the Law that had a Blemish be offer'd but to signifie that Christ was to offer up himself in no other Body but that which was without all Sin Seventhly Why was it prophesied of Christ A Body hast thou prepared me why not Bodies many if he offer up himself in the Bodies of all the Saints Eighthly Is not this to make the Sacrifice of Christ in his own Body of less Value and Efficacy than his Sacrifice in William Penn's Body Because the Sacrifice of Christ in that Body that was offer'd at Jerusalem was a Type but this in William Penn's Body the Antitype That the History This the Mystery Ninthly Doth not this strengthen the Papists in their false Faith That Christ is daily offer'd in the Mass and unbloody Sacrifice But whereas William Penn argueth That as Christ or the Spirit Prayeth or maketh Intercession in the Saints why doth he not also offer up himself in them The Answer is easie The one is expresly affirmed in Scripture The other not nor is so much as to be proved by any just Consequence in a strict sence of the Word Sacrifice for it is not the Work of the Mediatory Spirit of Christ in the Saints to offer up himself a Sacrifice in Men but to apply the Vertue Merit and Efficacy of that Sacrifice of Christ outwardly offer'd to the Souls of Men for the Remission of Sin Justification before God and Peace with God And tho' it is said in Scripture that Christ remaineth a Priest for ever and he is the Propitiation for our Sins yet it is not said he is so in us but with the Father in Heaven And we have a High-Prist that is gone into Heaven Nor do I judge it safe to allow any such Unscriptural Phrase or Doctrine That Christ offereth up himself in us a Sacrifice in us to appease the Wrath of God though Christ's Mediation in the Saints may be allow'd in a qualified Sence but not in the nature of a Sacrifice but in other respects unless the Word Sacrifice or Offering be taken not to be an Offering for Sin but more generally and by way of Allegory as the Prayers and Alms of the Saints are call'd Sacrifices Note That in the Book of Homilies William Penn's Argument against Christ's Satisfaction for our Sins is effectually answered at large viz. in the Sermon of Salvation First Part. Where the Objection or Argument of William Penn is in Matter and Effect duly and fully answered according to Scripture viz. That God by his great Wisdom in this Mystery of our Redemption hath so tempered his Justice and Mercy together that he would neither by his Justice condemn us unto the Everlasting Captivity of the Devil and his Prison of Hell Remediless for ever without Mercy nor by his Mercy deliver us clearly without Justice or Payment of a just Ransom But with his endless Mercy he joined his most upright and equal Justice c. And whereas George Whitehead in his Reply to W. Burnet as above-cited blameth him for attributing to the Blood of Christ that was shed upon the Cross First Merit to Salvation Secondly Work to Sanctification It is evident he owneth it to be neither But as he is most highly jurious to that precious Blood and to him that gave it for us so he most unfairly chargeth W. Burnet with saying God could not save and so setting up that Blood above God For W. Burnet's plain Sense was as is obvious more especially to him that shall read his Book That Christ as God without being Man as well as God could not save us he having appointed to save us not without but by the Man Christ Jesus as the Scripture testifieth which chargeth no Imperfection or Impotency any more upon God than to say God cannot lye nor do any thing contrary to his Holy Council and Purpose And it is gross Ignorance and Errour in George Whitehead to make it a Contradiction in William Burnet to say as he chargeth him p. 8. Men ought to look to Jesus Christ as he was there crucified viz. at Jerusalem or to that Blood that was there shed for Justification And again to say That Christ that restoreth Man's Loss is both to be sought and found in Heaven viz. above the Clouds and Firmament For this is no Contradiction but a most necessary and comfortable Truth as well as that God and Christ are to be found in our Hearts But it is wonderful Blindness and Inconsiderateness in George Whitehead as well as in many of his ignorant Brethren whom he hath been a great Means by his unfound Books to darken rather than to enlighten not to consider That as God hath appointed divers subordinate Causes to work together in the producing of Natural Effects all concurring in Harmony together with himself the greatest and supreme Cause above all who is in all and through all So in the Work of our Salvation God hath appointed together with himself divers subordinate concurring Causes to effect and perfect it so as that God himself is our Saviour so he hath appointed Christ even the Man Christ Jesus to be our Saviour together with himself and the Blood Death and Sufferings of Christ and his most Holy and Perfect Obedience testified thereby also his Resurrection Ascension and Mediation without us as well as the Work of his Spirit in us together with the other much more inferiour but yet greatly valuable and profitable outward instrumental Helps and Means as the Holy Scripture Preaching c. in harmony to concurr together in the Work of our Salvation A POSTSCRIPT I Take notice of a late Book published against me by Th. Elwood call'd Truth defended c. but whose true Name should be Falshood and Hypocrisie weakly defended being a pretended Answer to my two late Books the one detecting the Injustice of of their Excommunication against me who were a leading Party of the Yearly Meeting of them call'd Quakers the other detecting the unjust Proceedings of that Party at the said Yearly Meeting and giving a List of the vile and gross Errors of some of their principal Teachers as George Whitehead William Penn c. To the which pretended Answer of Th. Elwood abovemention'd as also to some of the chiefest of his Forgeries and Pretensions and gross Abuses in his former Book call'd A farther Discovery it is probable a due Answer may be given in due time But I thought it not
proper to meddle with his said Book in this Treatise farther than to show briefly in a few Lines two or three silly Juggles which Thomas Elwood useth to cloak and excuse some of his guilty Brethren The first is in page 108. of his late Book call'd Truth defended where to excuse and cloak George Whitehead's most unsound and impious Doctrine saying The Quakers see no need of directing Men to the Type for the Antitype viz. neither to the outward Temple nor yet to Jerusalem either to Jesus Christ or his Blood He alledgeth it should have been printed either for Jesus Christ or his Blood the Word to there next before Jesus Christ being through mistake set instead of for which it should have been and in the Book he saith which he hath he finds it hath been so amended with a Pen and the former part of the Answer shews it should have been so But that this is a dull and silly Juggle is easie to perceive for first whereas he saith the Word to was through Mistake set instead of for Who hath told him this If George Whitehead why did he not Name him for he was the only proper Person to tell him this being the Author of these Words and every Man is the best Corrector of his own Words Secondly Who mended it in the Book he hath and when was it amended Thirdly Why was not this Amendment made in all the other Books or Copies as well as that one And how is it that after Sixteen Years the Book hath been in print we never heard of such Amendment till now And why was it not put in the Book as an Errour of the Press seeing many less Errours are usually corrected But Fourthly Seeing not only we find the same Expression elsewhere in that Book but that it is a principal part of the Design of that whole Book to take off People from looking to Jesus Christ without as be suffer'd at Jerusalem or to his Blood as it was shed there for Justification as any will perceive that either seriously considers the Book it-self or the Passages cited out of it it is manifest it was no Mistake or Errour of the Press Now that the same Expression is elsewhere in that Book see page 61. where he blames William Burnet's Doctrine in these Words Another while People must seek their Saviour above the Clouds and Firmament page 33. contrary to the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 10.6 Another while they must look to Jerusalem for Justification to the Blood that was there shed page 24. contrary saith he to Deut. 30.13 14. and Rom. 10. Note how he useth the Word to here and in the same sence as in page 38. And why did not Thomas Elwood tell us that place was also mended in his Book And Fifthly The Amendment made by him helps not the Matter the Word to and for in this respect and case having one signification For to all true Christian Ears it is as offensive to say We are not to be directed to Jerusalem the place where Christ suffer'd for Jesus Christ or his Blood as to say to Jesus Christ and his Blood for all true Christians by Faith and pious Meditations though not by the Bodily Eye which was not intended by William Burnet are directed to look as well for Jesus Christ as to him as he suffer'd at Jerusalem for their Sins that God might pardon them upon sincere Repentance and Faith in Christ And though the Temple at Jerusalem was a Type of Christ's Body yet I no where find either in Scripture or in any approved Author that Jerusalem was a Type of Christ but it was the place whereabout he suffer'd and where he was sentenc'd to Die which is a weighty Circumstance necessary to be believ'd by them to whom it is preached viz. That Christ suffer'd for our sins without the Gates of Jerusalem And though the Types are not to be practised as some of the People call'd Quakers have in their Declarations showed how some of the Types pointed at the Spirit 's Teachings and inward Operations and in that respect directed to the Type for the Antitype why also may not and ought not the like Directions or Instructions be used to show how the Types pointed to Christ without us well as some of 'em pointed to the Spirit of Christ within and to his inward Operations A Second dull and silly Juggle of Thomas Elwood and of George Whitehead also is in their excusing Solomon Eccle's Blasphemy in saying The Blood that was forc'd out of Christ's Side by the Spear c. was no more than the Blood of another Saint which they both seek to excuse and whose Excuses I have shewn to be deceitful and may further show And to blind and hoodwink the Reader they bring some of Solomon Eccle's Words wherein they say he did speak highly of the Blood of Christ and new Covenant as more excellent and Living and Holy and Precious than is able to be utterred c. and this saith George Whitehead might have satisfied any Spiritual or unbyassed Mind But that this is thick and palpable Deceit in George Whitehead first and next in Thomas Elwood is plain because in that very letter of Solomon Eccle's cited by George Whitehead Solomon Eccles maketh a distinction of Blood and so doth George Whitehead calling the Blood of the new Covenant inward and Solomon Eccles expresly denieth that Blood that came out of Christ's Body after he was dead to be the Blood of the New Covenant So when he affirmeth the Blood of Christ to be more excellent c. he tells plainly his meaning that it was not that Blood that came out of his Side after he was dead so this thick and palpable Deceit of both is discovered And what a poor and silly Off-come makes he to excuse that most unchristian Saying of William Penn viz. This Seed must be inward and Spiritual since one outward Thing cannot be the proper Figure or Representation of another nor is it the Way of Holy Scripture so to teach us The Outward Lamb shews forth the Inward Lamb And whereas in Answer to this I said If this be not a plain Denyal of Christ to be any outward Being having any Bodily Existence without us I know no English All his Answer I can find to this is a silly Joke saying For a Scotchman not to know English is not so great a Wonder as it would have been if he had said he knew no Scottish But until he give a better Answer it remains as a great Reflection he casts on the English That the outward Types of the Law 〈◊〉 the Sacrifices and Pascal Lamb were not Types of Christ without but of the Lamb within which I am sure is not true Doctrine neither English nor Scottish FINIS * Which he saith is in love to my poor Soul But whether such Cursing proceeds from true Love let the Intelligent judge * See his Book call'd Christ Ascended above the Clouds pag. 21.24 * As he calls it in Answer to John Faldo