the visible Church of Christ that are under the Doctrine and ordinances of the grace of the Covenant many are called but few are chosen And these Impostors and Perverters of the new Covenant that teach that all have the Lawes of the new Covenant writ in their hearts may as truly say that all have the promises thereof writ in their hearts then which nothing is more absurd therefore I conclude that as the promises of the Covenant are upon Divine record that we may have hope for our selves and children so likewise is the rule that we are to conforme unto in order to the receiving of the spirituall blessings promised In the next place to excuse their rash insolent censures they assume to themselves To be the spiritual man that judgeth all things and thereupon by their light they say that my blindnesse and deceit is seen and judged who accuseth them of waving the Scripture-authority as if they were out of date Answ And let the World judge what use they make of the Authority of holy Scriptures that have in plain terms denyed them to be the perfect rule of faith and obedience as you have seen before and not many lines off again where they judge me they say The Spirit and light of Christ in them which they witnesse is absolutely binding and the sole judge of error for to him is all judgement given Joh. 5.22 Thus you see they set up another Rule to be sole judge of error and yet they judge me for accusing them falsely But this is but the same in other words which they have urged and I have answered already in the first Question There they say the Spirit is the rule here the light of Christ in them the sole judge of error for they make the light within the law in the heart the Spirit and Christ the exercise of the conscience to be all one and they quote Scriptures meerly to delude the simple and to colour over their real delusions and deceits for if the Spirit and the immediate Revelations of Christ in the heart be the only rule and sole judge of error to what end do they prove it by Scriptures for that which is the sole Judge of error is infallible of it self and needs not any demonstration but faith to believe it that it is so and their going to the Scriptures to prove the Spirit to be the rule in that very thing they make the Scriptures the absolute rule and therein contradict all they say If Christ in them be the sole judge of truth and error why do they make such a noyse of Scripture expressions can they not speak in the Authority of that Christ within them unlesse they fill up their Revelations with those borrowed expressions of the Scriptures which they call a dead Letter that killeth Certainly in the secret of their Consciences they are convinced that the holy Scriptures are the sole Judge of error they being given by the Inspiration of God and the word that we shall be judged by at the last day Joh. 12.48 although they reject it from being the Judge of error now because it crosses their idle proud fancies and itching humors to set up something of their own brain in their Apostate condition and therefore like condition like rule rather then they will repent and return to the right Rule they will set up a Rule of their own making that shall please them better but what will they do in the end thereof Because they had not executed my judgements but despised my statutes and polluted my Sabbaths c. wherefore I gave them statutes also that were not good and judgements whereby they should not live and the Lord polluted them in their own Gifts c. Ezek. 20.24 25. The Lord give them hearts to consider the judgement of God upon such that despise the judgements statutes and Sabbaths the Lord hath commanded in his word Was this judgement of the Lord inflicted for the despising the judgements and Statutes and Sabbaths that were written in their own hearts think you no but for the despising and breaking the statutes lawes and ordinances commanded to be writ and taught the people by Moses and the Prophets as innumerable Texts do evince But while they quote Scripture although they deny it for a rule let us not be beaten with our own weapon and therefore give me leave to examine their quotations to prove the spirituall man and the light of Christ within to be the sole judge of error distinct from the Scriptures The 1 Cor. 2.14 15. them that are spirituall are put in opposition to the naturall man the one knows approves and judges of spiritual things the other receives not the things of the Spirit nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned the spirituall man hath his senses exercised to discerne and judge of things that differ but it is no where said he doth this without the rule of the word that gives that discovery The spirituall man as well as all others may not judge his brother nor another mans servant for we must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ our Lord and Master and all judgement is committed to the Son that men may honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5. as they quote hence they inferre that Christ is the sole judge of error Indeed Christ as he is the Son of man God and Man in one person who hath ascended farre above all heavens sitting at the right hand of God from thence shall he come in the clouds of Heaven with his mighty Angels in flames of fire to render vengeance on the disobedient to the Gospell Because God hath appointed him a day in which he shall judge the World in righteousnesse even by that man whom he hath ordained whereof God hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Act. 17.31 We believe that Jesus Christ shall come in his day with that very same body that suffered death upon the Crosse and was raised from the dead the third day and he shall judge the whole world of mankind that ever were even all those that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth the righteous to the resurrection of everlasting life and the wicked to the resurrection of condemnation Joh. 5.28 29. And let these seduced people take notice of Joh 12.28 29 He that receiveth not my words saith Christ hath one that judgeth him the word that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last day And this word of Christ they reject from being the rule of faith and obedience but whether they will or no they must stand to the judgement of this word of Christ which he hath spoken at the last day William Dusbury tells us that the mighty day of the Lord is appeared in the North of England and is arising towards the South and shall overspread this Nation and all Nations of the world What
of the Spirit unto salvation may have some footing from that promise and so to the Gentiles But this reacheth not the thing in hand and is no more proper to them than to the weakest Christian that is renewed by the Spirit of Grace In the most proper sense that promise was fulfilled as Peter witnesseth Act. 2.16 above 1600. years ago but these say they witnesse it fulfilling now but they want not for boldnesse to say any thing they have a mind unto Next they bid me shew that Scripture that speaks of a written word or that calls it the savour of life quick and powerfull or that attributes any such things unto it as thou saist but if you cannot stop thy mouth Answ Most absurd is their first What is the Scriptures but words from the Lord committed unto writing and every sentence of Scripture is a written word What is Scripture but the writings of the prophets and Apostles and what did they write but words and what were those words but the Inspirations of God all Scriptures are given by Inspiration of God as hath been quoted again and again And what will they make of that promise themselves quote Joel 2. is not that a written word and all their other quotations The Apostles were the savour of death to some 2 Cor. and life to others 2 Cor. 2.16 But how was this but as they were Ministers of the Word for they were not as many which corrupt the word c. and the word is quick and powerfull Heb. 4.12 It 's called the immortall seed the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 David tells us Thy word hath quickned me and was light to his feet the rejoycing of his heart his heritage for ever and giveth light and understanding to the simple Psal 119.130 He witnesseth that Gods word is pure therefore he loved it ver 140. It is endlesse to recount the Epithites and honour and glorious esteeme the servants of God have alwayes had of the word as it is written and they that despise this word shall be destroyed Prov. 13.13 And let these wormes that are all along diminishing and detracting from the power and majesty of the Scriptures beware lest being given over to despise the word they be polluted in their own gifts and follow the imaginations of their own deluded hearts to their utter ruine if God by his grace prevent it not Whereas in their first Answer to the Question in hand they talk of yeelding faithfull obedience to the righteous and perfect Law of God in the heart in my reply I told them that they build all upon the light within and the Law of God writ in the heart and the Inspirations of Christ and so make the holy Scriptures superfluous and of no use whereas the writing of Gods Law in the heart is a blessing of the Covenant promised to the use of those wayes and means God hath given to the Church in order to that end his word and ordinances the Instrumentall cause of this blessing of grace to whom he will the writing of his Law in the heart being but the same with a new heart regenerate and quickned by a Divine power of speciall grace which softens the hard uncircumcised heart of man and makes it pliable to receive the Words impression as standing willing and ready to believe and do what Jesus Christ in the Rule of his word would have him to do being made willing in the day of his power upon the heart to yeeld faithfull obedience to all the Lawes and Ordinances of Christ revealed in his holy word And to jumble things together as they by making the light and Inspirations of Christ and Law in the heart all one are most confused notions of things that differ as much as the efficient and the effect the giver and the gift the will of God in commanding and the blessing of God overruling the subject to a willing obedience but let them tell us where the Scriptures speak of a righteous perfect Law of God in the heart either in all men or in some and who they are that have such a Law written within which of the Prophets or Apostles gives the discovery of a perfect Law in the heart unto which all our obedience is to terminate as the only Rule if they cannot produce Scripture Authority for it let them confesse it a Law of their own fancie as to the end they intend it for But they say in their last Answer to this in hand Vpon the Prophets and Apostles we build and Christ Jesus who hath enlightned every one that comes into the world is the chief corner stone though he be set at nought by thee and the builders who would set the Scriptures in his place making them the enlightener and calls his light but an effect of them which light was before Scripture was and will lead them that walk in it out of darknesse to the knowledge of God and eternall life Joh. 8.12 But this light is not received into the mind and head from the Scripture neither can it be blotted out as thou hast said but it comes from Christ who is the glory of his people Israel and the light of the Gentiles such as thou call'st pagans who shall be excused when thou and all that oppose the light of Christ shall be condemned though you can talk of Christ as Bedeemer and Mediator of his Spirit and regenerating Grace all which you are strangers to c. Answ Let the indifferent Reader judge how true it is that they build upon the Prophets and Apostles while they have and are denying the holy Scriptures to be a perfect Rule of faith and obedience and affirme that the light of Christ is not received by the Scriptures and yet they say upon the Prophets and Apostles they build and is not the writings of the Prophets and Apostles that Scripture that they exclude from receiving the light of Christ in their minds and heads What Prophets and Apostles is the Church built upon if not upon those that have declared the mind of God and Jesus Christ in the holy Scriptures And shall any think that the Scriptures oppose the light of Christ because they are written to make the clear discovery of Christ as Redeemer and without which not any can know him to any such end But it 's charged upon me to be a fault in making the Scripture an enlightener and calls Christs light but an effect of them Answer whether I used those terms I am not sure this I said and cleared my self in that the Scriptures simply considered of themselves did not enlighten nor convert as an efficient cause thereof but were appointed and designed of God to be the only Instrument and Vessel of his Spirit to conveigh the knowledge of Christ as Redeemer to lost man and without them Christ is not known at all to any saving ends or to this purpose I spake I have proved that the Word doth give light to
of faith we preach Rom. 10. I told you that was a contradiction and a confused senselesse thing which you say stands as a witnesse against me and bid me prove my accusation Answ 1. I queryed you whether any of you did know and believe what is written in the Scriptures without the outward declaration unto which you answere not at all 2. I query what you mean by the word of faith in the mouth and in the heart which the Apostle preached Rom. 10.6 7 8. whether it be the same with the Doctrine of faith declared in the Scriptures writ to the Churches or different from it As I concluded before in my replie so I shall make it good still notwithstanding all that you have writ that the word of faith which the Apostles preached and writ to the severall Churches is the same with that which you call the outward declaration What are the writings of the Prophets and Apostles but the word of faith I told you that this of the Apostle doth allude to that in Deuteronom 30. and there we find the same of the word as it was written in the law as heer of the word of faith preached The Doctrine of faith was so familiarly preached and beat into mens heads hearts and mouthes that ignorance could not excuse any and the Apostle explains what this word of faith is verse 9. thus That if thou shalt confesse with the mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved You may see it's clear enough what the Apostle understands by word in the mouth and in the heart if you be not too perverse and in the 10 verse there is a reason urged to make all your cavils fall For with the heart man believes unto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation and proves it by the Scripture Whosoever beleeveth on him shall not be ashamed Isa 28.16 What can be concluded hence but what the writings of the Scriptures contain and declare and yet you say not any can know the Scriptures by the outward declaration but by the word of faith which word of faith in your quotation is discovered by the Scriptures what it is so that you say and unsay not by the outward declaration but by it a meer contradiction which you will never free your selves of But why cannot any know Scripture by its own writing Can you know what is contained in the holy Scriptures without the outward declaration if not then you must know it by the outward declaration or not at all How do you know what is in your books but by the outward declaration But instead of answering to clear your selves you are froward and very impertinent and obscure and desperately confused as followeth in their next wherein they should shew us the difference between the declaration of Scripture and the word of faith preached And first they witnesse the Scriptures by the same light and Spirit that gave them forth Rom. 10. and in Christ Jesus the Lord of faith which the Apostles preached and declared of they believe Rom. 10.6 7. as the Apostles did who knew the Letter which kil'd and the word of faith which is quick and powerfull which word say they is God that made all things and the letter testifies of him whose name is called the word of God Revel 19.11 12. Joh. 1.1 Heb. 4.12 And then they say they have come off clear of what I have accused them of in their answer Answ Here is nothing but pride and coniusion in these lines unlesse we can credit every thing they have the boldnesse to say as infallible How are the Scriptures beholding to them for their witnesse who have the same light and Spirit which gave them forth the Lord of Hosts gave them forth all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God 1. Tim. 3. and they have the same light and the same spirit equall with God if one may believe what they say of themselves But what think you are not the Scriptures as inspired and given of God a perfect rule of faith and obedience unlesse you witnesse them to be so and what letter was that which the Apostles knew killed you take it for granted that it is the whole declaration of holy Scriptures but it is because you have no light nor Spirit of God in you The word of faith Rom. 10.6 7. is quick and powerfull c. which word is God that made all things Most senselesse Is the profession of Christ in the mouth and believing in him with the heart God that made all things is every gift and work of God in man God that made all things this is like their other notion Christ lighteth all and therefore that light is Christ as if every work and operation of Christ is Christ just like those that make God to be every thing that from him lives and moves c. So again Christ is the word his name shall be called the word of God and they have Christ the word of God within them and what need of that which is written they have it in the life and fountain and they will come under no other writings nor rule although never so much commanded by God in the expressions of the holy Spirit in the Scriptures Touching Heb. 4.12 in the second verse he shewes us what word he meant where he saith That the Gospel was preached to them as unto us but the word that they heard profited not them because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it What word was this which was heard but the outward declaration in voice or writing or both And this word is quick and powerfull c. and the savour of life to some and of death to others according to the pleasure of him with whom we have to doe he blessing or blasting his own word and ordinance to the different ends intended by himself and for his glory whether in the diligent use thereof men be saved or in the contempt and neglect of the word men be damned The 2 Cor. 3.6 where it is said the Letter killeth is to be understood of the ministrie of Moses in comparison of the Gospell ministry administred by the Apostles that of Moses not so spirituall glorious effectuall as the new Testament was and yet it had its glory too but no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth vers 10. The Ceremonials their Gospel were but shadowes of good things to come the substance was Christ who was but darkly seen by the people but the Precepts and Threats of the Law were cleer which brought them under guilt and the remedie obscure and the fruit but little in comparison of the Apostles Ministry c. And hence the letter killed as administred by Moses but grace and truth comes by Jesus Christ It 's true the ministrie of the Apostles without the powerfull operation of the Spirit concurring was not
unto it were time to forsake and abhorre them Remember the Argument of our Saviour to distinguish between those that are of God and those that are not Joh. 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods words but ye therefore hear them not therefore ye are not of God They are blessed that hear the word of God and keep it and this word is that word which they heard from the beginning as the same Apostle witnesseth 1 Joh. 2.7 Brethren I write no new Commandement unto you but an old which you had from the beginning and the old Commandement is the word which you have heard from the beginning and he that saith he knowes Christ and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar and the truth is not in him Even those Commandements which were writ and spoke from the beginning that we love one another and this is love that we walk after Christs commandements and this is the Commandement that as you have heard from the beginning so should you walk in it Our duty is to look unto what Christ hath spoken and was heard by them that lived when he was upon the earth as his Apostles who had the promise of the Spirit to bring all things to their remembrance which he had spoken unto them And we are not to look for new commands from Christ now but to cleave to the old and we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip How shall we escape if we neglect so great salsation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him Heb. 2.1 2 3. So likewise God who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets Heb. 1.1 hath in these last dayes spoke unto us by his Son he doth not say that God in these last dayes doth speak or will speak unto us by his Son but God hath already in time past spoke by his Son and that speaking is to these last dayes so that we are not to look for any other speaking or Revelations from any let them pretend what they can but must hear what the Spirit hath said unto the Churches for whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God and this Doctrine of Christ confists in the Commandements that ye have heard from the beginning that we should walk in them 2 Joh. 2.6 9. For many deceivers are entred into the World who confesse that Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh this is is a deceiver and an Antichrist and that is another rule to try the Spirits by whether they be of God or no. Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but is Antichrist I confesse in the Apostles dayes that was lookt upon to be the great herefie that troubled the Church namely that Jewish denyall of Christs being come in the flesh and that which did overthrow the Christian faith And we cannot say that the Quakers directly are in that Antichristian heresie but this we can safely say that they deny the benefits that come to the Church by Christs sufferings in that flesh he received from the Virgin Mary or else deny it to be a reall body of flesh and so make him but a figure and type of Christ in the Saints who are his true reall body which he now suffers in and by suffering makes satisfaction for them making that death upon the Crosse of none effect which is all one with denying that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh because they deny him that body of flesh that God prepared for him to suffer in even for all those his blood was shed for for remission of fins hence it is that they so commonly say that we must not think to be saved by that Christ without us that dyed at Jerusalem but by Christ within us and that Christ within they make to be all one with the light that is in all Such mad confused notions they have of Jesus Christ who shed his blood for many for remission of sins and did he not shed his blood without us and he is able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him seeing he liveth for ever to make intercession for them For such a high Priest became us who is holy undefiled separate from finners and made higher then the heavens Heb. 7.25 26. And is this done within any think you It 's true Jesus Christ worketh powerfully and effectually in the Saints to their converfion and reforming but to imagine that his powerfull workings in the hearts of his people is Christ in his being and person is a foule mistake as much as to say the actions of a man is the man Dear Friends I cannot but admire and wonder that ever you should adhere to such Teachers that so notoriously derogate from the death and blood-shed and intercession of Jesus Christ who hath suffered but once for sins the just for the unjust to bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned in the Spirit 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many Heb. 9.28 By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified chap. 10.14 All which these Impostors which you follow make void which is to make the whole Gospell of no effect All good newes to sinners is grounded upon this one suffering of Christ without us thereby bearing our sins and taking them away by his bloud his blood cleanseth from all sin and that alone without blood is no remission by his stripes we have healing in him we have redemption through his bloud even the forgivenesse of sins Ephes 1. Doth Christ undergo the stripes of a just God and shed his bloud for our Redemption and forgivenesse within you What abhorred dotages are you bewitched with And no great wonder when you depart from the Counsells of God revealed clearly in the holy Scriptures why whither will you wander when you are got beyond all true bounds If one should have told you when you first had prejudice against the faithfull Ministrie that you wil fall off from all Ministrie and Worship and Sabbaths and private exercises of Religion in your families and from Scriptures and from Christ as the Scriptures teach him for Justification and Salvation c. you would have took it as ill as Hazael but by sad experience you may see your souls surprized with all this and I fear have added obstinacie unto it even scorning all counsel and endeavours to reduce you from these miserable snares with which you are taken and undone if God prevent not by his everlasting love and Covenant mercle from which they that have had good experience of your constancie and fidelity in the wayes
Lawes of God are nigh unto God and great above all other Nations by way of priviledge And to what end were the Lawes of God given unto them and us but that we should know them and do them for our good chap. 10.12 13. See chap. 11.18 19. The use of the outward is a means of the inward where God gives the blessing And for those that have not the benefit of the outward writings of the Prophets and Apostles or have them and yet regard them not as it is written is too palpable a sign that they are strangers from the Law of God in the heart as it is a blessing of the new Covenant We know the written Law was given to the people by the hands of a Mediator and not against the promise but subservient to the receiving of the benefits and blessings thereof And therefore let them shew us what other Covenant that is to which pertains the perfect Law in the heart distinct from the outward writing and how the outward declaration is under one Covenant and the Lawes of God in the heart under another they being both the same as is confessed but whether they understand all the same in the heart as is in force in the holy Scriptures I suspect for they wave the answer of that whereas the whole of what the Scripture plainly teacheth is in the hearts of the Lords people to believe love and do with an equall respect as the Scripture is plain in By evangelicall discoveries they carp at and judge as unlearned and to be condemned which I do much admire knowing that themselves are no strangers to the phrase and sense nor unacquainted with those Scriptures that give such discoveries of the person natures offices of a redeeming Christ that never any have attained unto and discovered either by word or writing which never had nor heard of the help of the Gospel as contained in the Scriptures And for them to condemne me for putting the Question unlesse I can prove by Scripture those things of Christ argues their denyall of them which to do seems to me no lesse then to deny the true Christ anointed of God and fitted to performe the work of mans redemption in his own body once offered by the eternall Spirit that he might bring sinners to God Had he not a body given him which was sacrificed unto death was buryed rose again and ascended into Heaven as Scriptures witnesse And was he not a person Pilate's wife acknowledged him a just person Matth. 27.24 And Paul forgave in the person of Christ 2 Cor. 2.10 and to his humane nature is united his Divine which the Saints are said to partake of in its speciall and peculiar workings upon their hearts the word made flesh in that he took not the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham born of a Virgin c. truely God and truely man in one person and his offices of Prophet Priest and King as evident according to Scripture that not any but Infidels and malicious Apostates will deny But I hasten And I doubt not but that all that have the Law writ in their hearts by vertue of the new Covenant shall be saved that being the same with a new heart regenerate and quickned by the grace of God and not any other although they have the use of Scriptures much lesse those that are denyed the ordinary use and benefit thereof as they reveal Christ the Redeemer to the world without knowing and believing in shall perish But Christians I pray you mark what a Christ these men fancy to themselves as Redeemer that have condemned me with the light that gave forth the Scripture for querying whether the light that is in all in the world gives the discovery of the person natures and offices of Christ unlesse the Scriptures doe prove them why do not they know that the Scriptures do give this Gospell discovery if they will own it as I am sure they cannot be ignorant of it Why do they put me to the proof condemning the Query as unlearned because I ask whether those that have not the use of Scripture have a sufficient Gospel light to give this discovery If they deny it as I believe they do then judge what a Christ they frame in their imaginations that is without person natures and offices whether he be that very same Christ that was equal with God and took upon him the forme of a Servant made in the likenesse of men and being found in the fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Crosse Phil. 2.7 8. That suffered in the flesh the just for the unjust to bring us unto God 1 Pet. 3.18 I tell you did not these deceivers fear the Authority of man that hath put forth an Act against Blasphemy more then the Authority of God in Scriptures they would speak out in plain terms and deny the person natures and offices of Christ and so deny Christ himself who is not at all a Mediator and Redeemer on the behalf of lost man but by his person natures and offices c. And therefore it is wel that fear of man will stop the mouth of blasphemy But mark they cannot condemn the Question as unlearned by the Authority and light of Scripture which are undoubtedly the Inspirations of God but their insolence carries them higher then the light of Scripture Inspirations namely to a light in themselves by which they condemn the mysteries of Christ in the work of Redemption which the Scriptures so plainly teach But what light is this that condems the query They answer the light that gave forth the Scriptures Reply God is light and the Scriptures are the Inspirations of God doth it follow that the light in man is that God that gave the Scriptures when can you prove that the light in man gave forth the Scriptures if you cannot prove it by what Authority do you assert it The Fourth Question propounded WHether that light of Conscience which is more or lesse in all since the fall be the Remainder or Reliques left in man of the first Adam in reference to the Covenant of works or whether common to all from the Redemption of the second Adam as flowing from the Covenant of Grace or how else I desire your clear Answer The Quakers Answer Man in his fallen estate hath not any light remains in him to guide him to do any thing pleasing to God as he stands in the state of corrupt nature for all his righteousnesse is as filthy rags The light that convinceth men of the evill of their hearts and discovers the filthinesse of their own Righteousnesse is the light that comes from Christ the true light that lighteneth every one that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 And this light is not common to men by nature it is the great gift of God his grace that hath appeared unto all men c. Tit. 2.11 My Reply The Answer to my