light to be under such a limitation either as to time or place as a finite creature for his out-goings were from of old from everlasting Micah 5. 2. Here follows a further Account of some passages taken out of R. Gordons Book wherein his Confession to the Truth professed by us as to the work of the power and spirit of God within and his erroneous Contradictions to the same are set opposite that his self Confutation and breaking the neck of his own Cause may be obvious to every 〈◊〉 Reader R. G. his confessing to truth R. G. erroneously contradicting R. G. p. 6. First there is a spirit of Error a and its work is to deceive and its end to destroy such in whom it ruleth and its deceit is seen under this fair Covering a pretending to the imputed b righteousness of Christ pleading a faith in his Death and Sufferings interest in the satisfaction and attonement made to God through his blood but under all this retaining the serpents c nature In their soul preserving alive in themselves unmortified corruptions bearing dominion c over them d O be not so easily decieved God will not be thus mocked he sees not as man sees e he trieth the heart and reins Know of a truth such as you sow such shall you reap to whom you yield your selves servants to obey his servants you are whether of â—in unto death e or of obedience unto rightousness and on the day of the Lord every Kingdome shall have its own on the day of that wonderful severation when the Lord shall judge the world by the man Christ Jesus every thing shall be severed to be for ever included in that state whether of light or darkness into which it was sown according to that righteous proceeding of the son of man Matt. 25. He shall sâ—y to the sheep on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom But to the Goaâ—s on the left hand depart from me ye cursed and on that day your supposed coverings though of the imputed f righteousness of Christ your high pretences though to his death and sufferings your crying Lord Lord will not shelter you from the wrath of the Father you being wholly altogether of the nature of those Goats on Christs left hand though pretending to the Sheeps cloathing Oh! hear with me a little to plead with you in tender compassion to your immortal souls that you might be perswaded Yes intreated to inquire a little into this matter not satisfying your selves to say that you believe there is a Redemption g already purchased you in Christ until through a living faith in your selves h you have a real evidence of your being particularly redeemed by experimental witnessing the living power * of the i Truth in your inward parts which in words you outwardly profess Consider the words of our Lord to Nicodemus Except a man be born again k he cannot inherit the Kingdom of God there lyeth an impossibility in this thing he placeth not Goats remaining such in their state in the same place with Sheep there is a great gulf between these two They are of two contrary natures Two opposite States and Kingdoms prepared for them Therefore without being changed without being in your minds renewed translated out of darkness into sight without dying to the old Nature of Sin and rising in the new nature of Righteousness And so Christ l formed within you you cannot inherit this Kingdom because without this real change wrought in some measure within you through the Operation of the Spirit of God within m there is only a dawbing of the old Sepulchre while rotteness is â—till within a talking of being justifyed through the Redemption already purchased in Christ without wiâ—nessing the Life Power and Virtue of the thing it self within n Therefore I do exhorts thee 〈…〉 Spirit in thy mind thou art subjected to for as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God and if any man have not the spirit of Christ â—he is none of his â—o that it will not be enough to say that Jesus Christ dyed for sinners and that his righteousness is imputed to thee as altogether from without thee O remember the work of Regeneration is to be wrought within thee R. G erroneously contradicting R. G. a All things pertaining to manâ— Redemption were transacted in God-man Christ not in our persons nor within us but in his crucified body without us before any good b wrought in us God having already wrought all things for us in the body of Christ as being our rightousness p. 3 4. c He hath already subdued all things finished transgression made an end of sin abolished condemnation and death and so hath for ever in himself compleated the work of Redemption c. with God for us p. 4. d To bear my testimony to the Redemption and Rightousness already purchased in his crucified body for uâ— the son buried our sins in his grave all things are finished sin death and the flesh in the body of Christ p. 5. 16. e It is a mystery of the Gospel the believer to be pure and beautiful as in Christ while weak in many things in himself in his body he hath a law of sin but in the Lord he hath put it off as he walks by sight he is in the Earth in Labours in Groaning warfare and Imperfections c. p. 16. f The Law Sin Death charged upon his Crucified body he buried them in his Grave thus abolished Sin out of the sight of God p. 39. g Redemption c. already wrought purchased in his Crucified body for us without us p. 4. h The light in the Conscience is not able to reveal or give life p. 11. h There is a Spirit in some that declares that we are Redeemed Iustified Saved and made Righteous and accepted with God by the work of the Spirit * of God wrought within us p. 11. i What ever Spirit shall declare Christ now coming or coming to within us to Reconcile to Attone to Redeem us c. is no other than a Denier of Iesus our Saviour notwithstanding its high pretences to light and power and Spirit within p. 15. 16. k But know thou O Man that that Doctrine how misterious soever in shew that teacheth Redemption to be by Operation of the Spirit within us and not by that alone * Operation of God in the man Christ Iesus is it may be agreeable to mans reason but a fearful coâ—tradiction to that blessed Mistery of Grace p. 17. l Vnder this Mental Reservation the seed the light the nature of the Dove in me is he the Christ c. but is this a form of sound words pag. 31. m Come down from the heights of your reason to believe your Redemption already finished the law of sin and death already abolished p. 3. 7. through what he did and suffered without you without respect to any works wrought or to be wrought n within
The Light of Truth Triumphing Over Darkness anâ—â—gnorance Error and envy Manifested in Robert Gordouns late pretended testimony to the true Saviour Wherein every one whose eye is open may see his Seat And who have Salt in themselves may favour his words work and Spirit and discern his deceitful dealing by smitting the innocent in secret yet not with that subtilty which is able to cover in this day wherein Light is manifesting the works of darkness SO The Devil was here deficient BUT Envy siays the foolish man Given forth in the 2 Moneth 1670. By George Keith G. White-head Printed in the year 1670 R. G. Having had knowledge of thee from the beginning and acquantance with thee through many years and a love for theâ— â—nd regard to thee I found a readiness in 〈◊〉 to signifie My sense of thee and sorrow for thee in that spirit and mind which could dâ—light to do thee a service in Love But indeed thou appearest before me as one very uncapable in that spirit and state wherein thou stands of a return to the Lord or of a steady Conductor to thy bewildred minde the traversing of which without a guide hath centred it in a Whirle pool And in thy reelings thou art now resolved thou wilt fight neither with great noâ— small but with the King of Israel The Light of 〈◊〉 I have often wisht thee to come under its banner that it might have become thy covering then had not darkneâ—s covered thy understanding nor the Fogs of lirror so confounded thee but that thou might have seen thy way out of the mire and clay wherein thou art toyling thy self travelling in pain and bringing â—orth thâ— wind It did not a little astonish me upon a view of thy book to find thee whom I judged had attain'd a measure of reason setting up thy own shaddow in thy own immagination and then cudggelling it down again as though thou wert encountring an Army for where did 〈◊〉 the people called Quakers deny that body prepared of God to do his will in which suffered at Jerusalem by wicked hands which thou seems to take for granted and then labours like a man in a sweat and indeed thy labour is in the fire to prove its existence in that day of its service and its necessity as to mankind which by them was never denyed and I dare thee and all men upon the earth to prove they did or do I take notice of thy acknowledgement in the 4 pag. of thy book that the manifestation of God in the flesh of Christ was that their by way might be opened for the ministration of the other mistery 〈…〉 separating them and making the one subservient to the other and yet after runs against it â—n the whole scope of thy work which is mâ—nifest beyond all gain saying 〈…〉 qualification and a work to be wrought and that by a Spirit too â—ven as though the words had been expresly written to give thy words thâ— lyc I am really sorry for thee and my very 〈…〉 dâ—sirâ—d and doeth thy good and mark thy self that if possibâ—â— thou might see the confusion â—hy enemy drives thee into foâ— within ten lines after on the same page thou says seeing the travel of his soul rested well plâ—ased that he might make it effectual within every man end yet before no work to be 〈◊〉 in any man by any light or spirit Oh Robert whether drives thou whether art thou driven I marke one thing more pag. 4. thou says He hath already subdued all made an â—nd of sin compleated the work of 〈◊〉 redemâ—tion dyed for Us and reconcilâ—d Us to God c. and as I was weighing it in my mind what or whom thou did intend by the words Our and Us That other part of thy book came before me pag. 13. where thou says he did bear Our sins in his body on the troâ— Propitiation for the sins of the 〈◊〉 world past present and to come so then it appeared by the word Us thou intends the whole world Nevertheless to go round again thou pleads with a generation saying that their pleading a faith in his death and sufferings interest in the satisfaction and attonement made to God through his blood pag. 6 Will not shelter them from the wrath of the Father pag. 7. What I not shelter them and yet Christ a propitiation for their sins past present and to come what incongruous work is this which they that runs may read Several other passâ—ges in thy book are observable and I do not charge thy intention with blasphemy but thy work unawares Vergeth near it for pag. 22. thou says of Christ who was never defiled having the iniquities of us all in hâ—s body c. how unsound are thy words and in pag. 24. thy words are Spiritual mâ—sticall â—lâ—goricall Christ light within us Spirit and poâ—er in the man Christ. And now does thou know what thou speakes to Catigorize a Spiritual and an Alegoricall Christ identically and so in effect makâ— them both one Thou hast sometimes accused some for Alegorizing his body of flesh but now thou darest do it to his Spiriâ— I wish thou knew the weight of this and what tendency it hath to make void the faith converting its object into a Chimaera In the same page thou says if in every man this seed or Christ is not saved doeth it remain for ever under condemnation There is a supposition and a question from it of thy own forming and presently thou concludes it a doctrine of some others saying oh how contrary is this doctrine First it is gross confusion in thy self to call a supposition and question a doctrine and secondly it is a smitting in the dark by thy implying and raking for granted there is a people that hold it If thou meanest the people called Quakers aâ—cuse them openly if not then clear them of the many inconsequent implycations of thy book which many do and will understand to be against them until thou put off thy Vizaâ—d But it is enough to me and I wish it may be serviceable to thee for good that some faithâ—ul friends of truth have in love to truth and to thee set thy work before thee as in a glass that happily thou may see thy self by their labour of Love which after followes else I might have found in my heart to have dealt with thy book throughout and I am satisfied in due time thy own words will become thy burden but still I wish it may be for thy good for I have a real Love to thee and regard for thee as I said at first A. Robeson Light set over Darkness In somewhat writ in answer unto a printed paper published by R. G. so far as it Concerns us the people called in deriâ—ion Quakers and our principle wherein he hath both difing enuously represented us and darkly and ignorantlly opposed our principle even Iesus Christ the true light wâ—h enlightning every man that comes into the world that
besides any right aim For Christ as the Word the â—rue Light the power and wisdom of God the Redeemer from all iniquity and as in his Saints the giver of life and victory over the world c. He is the true Operator of God and the Author of Faith the worker out of Sin the Saviour and Redeemer from iniquity and so an Operator as such he is given for a leader for light life and salvation to all that believe in his light which will shine live prevail and prosper against all the darkness dark spirits and enmity which oppose it Something further added HEreby it may appear and be very obvious to every impartial Reader how disingeniously injuriously and falsly this R. Gordon hath dealt by us called Quakers whom he chiefly smiâ—es at chiefly for our so much owning and preaching the true light that enlightens every man having in many things he hath writ neither given a true account of our principle nor stated our words nor the Authors nor cited our Books or Pages that it might be seen how he hath wronged us worse then many of the Priests have done insinuating several falshoods against us which were never our principles and then making war against them and drawing false inferences and consequences upon us which have neither natural dependence nor any relation to our principles as may be seen at large in his bundle of impertinencies and confusion And whereas R. G. several times confesseth Christ and his spirit to be within us revealing and evidencing within us what God hath wrought for us in the body of Christ as that love God commended to us in his Son through his suffering and death according to his 1. 4. and 23. pages Now mark herein he hath in some degree assented to the truth of our principle though to his own confusion for that it follows that our preaching Christ and his Spirit in the true Believers doth not oppose nor make void his sufferings without but evidence and make known the benefit and living effects thereof within and bring both into the fellowship of Christs suffering and to a conformity unto his death But this R. G. in contradiction to himself like a malitious injurious person insinuates â—gainst us the dividing and opposing Gospel truths one to another and a denying the mystery of God in the flesh of Christ as a matter of any necessity to redemption reconciliation c. falsly adding these words viz. Râ—ckâ—ing to accomplish this in their own bodies each for himself through obedience to the law or light in his conscience c. pag. 5. This is a false conclusion put upon us and contrary to what this man hath confessed before For it s not of our selves but God that works in us to will and to do by his spirit and power which evidenceth and revealeth in us life and salvation by Jesus Chriâ—t who is our Saviour and Redeemer and by him and in him hath God appeared to reconcile us to himself who hath wrought all our works in us Isa. 26. 12. and to this we testifie in his Son who is made unto us wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption and against all such dark spirits and opposers of his light and work within as this our Opposer is who saith that God man in his crucified body without us and before any good wrought in us hath already subdued all things finished transgression made an end of sin abolished condemnation and death hath for ever as our head in himself compleated the work of redemption reconciliation with God for us c. God having already finished wrought and accomplished all things for us in the body of Christ pag. 3 4 5 9 12 13. And further he adds pag. 26. vâ—z having already vanquished in his crucified body and buried in his grave sin and death and all the powers that were against us But in contradiction to hâ—s asserting all these things as wrought in his body he layes it otherwhiles upon purchase as redemption reconciliation righteousness c. being already purchased for us in his crucified body without you without respect to any works wrought or to be wrought within you by any light whatsoever Thus far R. G. pag. 4 5 9 23 42. But to go round again in contradiction to this of all this being wrought accomplished and purchased without in his crucified body without respect to his light and work within R. G. confesseth and tells us of God working all things in us by Christ the mystery of Christ within and the operations of his spirit working all their works in them p. 4 5. From whence it then follows that all is not wrought and accomplished without them nor ought the work or light of Christ within thus to be disrespected as this man most blindly doth neither is mens sin and death either vanquished or buried in the grave with Christs body without for sin and death reigns in and over all men till they be quickned and renewed by the spirit of Christ within and raised up out of sins and trespasses and in this sense we own true beleevers and sanctified ones to be purchased unto God and hereby an everlasting inheritance obtained or purchased and that God hath purchased his Church with his own blood Act. 20. 28. And that such as were a chosen or purchased people or generation were a royal Priesthood a holy Nation a peculiar People to shew forth the praise of him who had called them out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. So such did not 〈◊〉 and oppose the light within nor disrespect its work within as to the purchasing and redeeming man to God as this blind Opposer hath done whose confusion runs after this manner viz. all things are already wrought and compleated for us in the crucified body without nay God works all things in us by Christ the mystery the operations of the spirit of God works all their works in them See here how inconsistent this mans work is and how he hath broke the neck of his own cause But for whom doth R. G. reckon hath this God-man as he calls him or God and Christ in union wrought and compleated or purchased all as redemption salvation righteousness c. was it for all or but for a few See his Answer R. G. pag. 13. For the sins of the whole world past present and to come c. A large confession and latitude to the world indulging them in sins to come as the sin-pleasing professions are wont to do and further to hearten them on therein all their dayes he reckoneth God doth not see their sin in them pag. 39. And surely they cannot be hindred of salvation for all this nor it in justice be detained from them because it s so dearly purchased and paid for and wrought witâ— God by his Son when no good is wrought in man if you believe R. G. which doctrine tends to make a merry world in their sins and not to regard the
death whose suffering sacrifice mediation inâ—ercession and offices with the blessed effects thereof within we own and confess according to the Scriptures of truth as inwardly revealed and evidenced by the spirit which we do not admit either oâ— sins past to be unrepented of nor of sins present to be committed nor sin â—o come to be persisted in however this or other Opposers and Profâ—ssors do sooth and flatter themselves therein under their traditional notion of a satisfaction and imputation without them p. 16. as after R Gs. qâ—estions How can there be redemption where conscience â—hargeth of sin is it not against reason to believe redemption in another for us while sin is within To this he thus answers To this spirit I say who art thou that thus aâ—gues with God Which indeed is no answer nor proof but a meer sâ—lly begging of the question nor any demonstration that such a belief that is both contrary to conscience and the conviction of the light therein is either true or right in the ground of it whereby any are thus credulous either of their being redeemed saved or jâ—stified wiâ—hout them whilst they lie under the guilt and imputation of sin in their own consciences sin being then their burden and bondage which is contrary to a redeemed and justified state but such a blind and dead faith and conceit of redemption and justification as this man hath appeared in hypocritical Professors are wâ—nt to sooth up themselves withal in their sins And R. G. further adds p. 1â— viz. Indeed it is a mystery of the Gospel that man's râ—ason cannot comprehend the believer to be pure and beautiful as in Christ his head while weak in many things in himself in his body 〈◊〉 â—ath a law of sin but in the Lord he hath put it off as he walks by â—ight he is in the earth in labors ingroanings warefare and imperfections but as he walks by faith he is in Christ walking in rest in victory and perfection these â—râ— paradoxes reason cannot fathom Answâ—â— This man thinks hee 's gotten beyond reason in his paradoâ—es which indeed do appear so contradictory confused and unreasonable that every rational man may see his darkness herein to conclude the believer in warâ—arâ— and imperfections in the body with a law of sin while pure beautiful walking in rest in victory and perfection in Christ his head which is all one as to say he iâ— in Christ and out of Christ pure and impure perfect and imperfect at the same instant or as the hypocritical Priests and Professors have said that men are imputatively righteous and justified while inherently and actually sinful and unjust and yet for all this R. G. makes account in pag. 39. that the law sin and death are so charged on Christs crucified body that sin is purged away out of the sight of God while yet he does not believe hâ—s people actâ—â—lly â—reed from it which is corrupt Antinamionisme but these and such like paradoxes â—e cannot own as either reason or truth For how is Christ the Believers and Saints head or they perfect in him if they be imperfect or impure in the body are they not members of Christ and is not their faith their victory over sin and death And is it no perfection they have waâ—ted and travelled to be â—eâ—ewed into the image of the heavenly Where 's the new birth new creature perfect on righteousness and true holiness so much preached and testified of by the holy men of God in the Scriptures of truth if men must be reckoned pure and perfect and in Christ when yet they are not washed from their fiâ—thiness in which state many are when yet they conceit that God counts them pure and jâ—stified Buâ— he that jâ—â—t fieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just they both are aboâ—ination before the Lord. R. G. We find thou hast noâ— brought forth any new thing as to matter or substance in these matters but art pâ—â—nged in the old dark stuff of Priests and Professors who have writ against us though thou art more confused and appearest more malitious against us then many of them â—however thou pretendest love and bowels p. 40 which cannot hide thy dissimulation and enmity and thou hast not methodized nor worded their principles so well as many of them thou being confounded and mangled between truth and their corrupt traditional principles which we perceive thou dost not see the bottom and tendency of however thou thinkest thou art wise but the devil hath blinded thee with prejudice and conceit as he hath all that take thy part and spread thy books or else thou durst never have brought such a piece of folly falshood and mixt mangled stuff to publick view as thou hast done who also to shew thy ignorance of redemption thou usest these words viz The operation of the spirit of Christ within us not to redeeâ—us p. 23. and Christ came into us by the ministration of the spirit not to redeem us pag. 38. Answ. This is contrary to the testimonies of both Prophets and Apostles who witnessed the redemption of their souls from under the bondage and power of sin and death so from the hand of the enemy Psa. 107. 2. David said draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it ps 69 â—8 So he did not put redemption afar off for the God of Israel was near whom the people owned for their Saviour and Redeemer from all inâ—quity Ps. 130. 7 8. And as the Apostle exhorted grieve not the holy spirit of God whereby ye are sealed uno the day of redempt on Eph. 4. 30. So that there was a day of redemption to be expected unto which they were sealed by the holy spirit which redemption was a freedom recovery or purchase from all iniquity which could not be effected without the operation of the spirit of Christ within who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all inquity Titus 2. 14. But this R. G. would impose on people a faith concerning redemption reconciliation and justification as all being finished wrought or purchased without them without respect to any works wrought or to be wrought within them by any light whatsoever p. 42. See Reader how erroneously he hath excluded the work of God and Christ from within as to the ransoming or freeing of man from sin and making him righteous and so bringing him into unity peace favour and friendship with God which is the true sense of redemption justification and reconciliation which are not effected nor obtained without the operation of the spirit of holiness within though Christs testimony suffering and example without had a tendency thereto 1 Cor. 6. 11. For it was by the spirit of God that the Saints were both washed sanctified and justified how ever tke Devil and his Agents endeavour to exclude and invalidate the inward operations of God Christ or his Spirit G. W. Errata Page 1. l. 37. ' for consider read crucifie p. 4. for 1. r. 4. l. 6. for enlâ—ghtening r. enlighteneth p. 12. l. 27 for any and. p. 14. l. 1. for is this r. is not this c. p. 15. l. 38. for no r. not p. 16. l. 12. for spent r. shut p. 17. l. 39. for hint r. limit p. 18. l. 1 for many r. man Second part p. 2. l. 30. for counted r. committed p. 8. l. 7. r. Christ now come dele to p. 12. l. 2 for Longworth r. Lawrie
but of debt for this law is of Grace and of promise and the whole obedience givâ—n to it is all of the free Grace of God in Christ Jesus and the same answer may serve to that other Scripture cited by thee â— man is juâ—â—â—fied by â—aith without the deeds of the law and to him that worketh not c. Which excludes the deeds and works of the law of the first Covenant or the works of any law from justification which is not given forth and administred in the Eâ—ect noble and royal and â—â—mortal and incorruptible â—eed of life for before this seed be raised all are under transgreâ—â—ion 〈…〉 further says Thâ—t the Apoâ—â—le concludes them ignâ—rant of and not submiâ—â—iâ—g to the râ—ghtâ—ousness of God who go about to establish thâ—ir own righteousnâ—ss by the works of the Law so say we also but the râ—ghteousness which is in the elect seed and the works thereof are not that self righteousness but the righâ—â—ousness of God and is our righteousness as Christ is ours evâ—n by the free grace gift of the Fatâ—er So having thus cut the 〈…〉 seeming strength thy carnal objections may have with weak people I shall not neâ—d further to answer particularly thy other words hereabâ—ut seeing they contain no force of Arguments but are only thy bare assertions and positions which wanting a sufficient foundation fall of themselves Thou further alleadges page 15. That to affirm justâ—fâ—cation to bâ— in obedâ—ence to the Light 〈◊〉 is to make him who is indeed the good Samaritaâ—e to be no better thâ—n the Priest and â—he Levite who looked upon the wâ—â—â—ded man and so passed by but hast thou not here grossâ—ly manifested thy weakness and shallowness does he not the part of â—he good Samaritaâ—â— in coming iâ—to our wounded souls in powring in the Wine and Oyl of his blessed spirit life and vertue to cleanse and 〈◊〉 them yea if he did not appear in us and justifie 〈◊〉 within work Redemptâ—â—on â—nd Salvaâ—â—on from sin in our hearts he might â—e said rather to pass by us as the Priest and thâ— Levite But that both here and oft elsewhere thou insinâ—ates as if we had no respect to his outward coming and sufferings in order to justification is a â—â—lfe and disiâ—genious alleadgâ—nce of thinâ— we dearly own and respect him in botâ— the wayâ— of his coming anâ— do not set the one in opposition to the other nor divide them for they are in Unity and work together according to the Eternaâ— puâ—posâ— of God for the full and perâ—ect deliverance and Saâ—vation of Man and who receive him in his inward coming and become subjâ—ct to him receive the â—enefit of his ouâ—ward coming receive the benâ—fit of his sufferings and death his suffering and death is theiâ—s and they who witness him to live in them may 〈◊〉 it is Christ who dyed who can condâ—mn who have hiâ— Lifâ— in them have any interest in his death and his blood cleanseth them from all sin but who seeks to rely upon his outward coming and sufferingâ— and deny and crucifiâ— his appearance of Light and Life in their heartâ— have no pâ—rt in him But thou altogether excludes his inward coming by his Life and Spirit in mens hearts from haviâ—g any share in mens Redempâ—ion and Salvation whereas the Apostle speaks of being savâ—d by his Life and mentions â— day of Redemption that was yet to come after his outward sufferings uâ—to which those who first believed in him were 〈◊〉 and though the Apoâ—â—le says if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by 〈◊〉 death of his Son yet he adds much more shall we besaved by his Life and though thou useâ— thiâ— Scripture to prove that men are fully and perfectly reconciled with God singâ—y and solely upon the account of what Christ did suffered without us in his cruâ—ified body excluding so much as any inward quallification wrought by him in uâ— â—et it is but an abuse of the place â—nd a wresting the wordâ— beyond the true intâ—nt and sence of the spirit nor need I go any further then thy own confession to alleadgâ— a more safe way of understaâ—ding that Scripture as wheâ—e thou says page 13. Alâ—hâ—ugh in the dayâ— of Isaiah Châ—ist was not 〈◊〉 come in our flesh yâ—t the propâ—â—â— speâ—ks â—f â—t as a 〈◊〉 alâ—eady done it being so iâ— the purpose of God and so why 〈…〉 said that 〈◊〉 speakâ— of being reconcil'd after this manner it being so in the purpose of God to reconcile them fully unto him not as they remain in enmity to him but turned from it and so become friends and loveâ—s of him and we do willingly acknowledge the full and perfect Redemption was in Christ while we were enemies yet we did not receive it while we continued enemies but now since we believed and were turned to him in our hearts we have received it as said the Apostle by whom we have now received the attonement or reconciliation so mark the word 〈◊〉 we have now received the reconciliation now since we believed and were turned to him in our hearts but not before In the 17 page whereas thou accuses us With denying the true Christ and asserting another yeâ— thou art found in the same guiltiness thy self which we are free of for we believe and acknowledge him who was manifest in that body of flesh to be the true and only Christ and Saviour and yet we believe him also to be the only true Christ and Saviour as manifest â—n us for he is not two Christs but one though he has had two manners or ways of coming as without us and within us both useful and needful yea both concurring unto our full and perfect deliverance and saâ—vation from sin and the consequences thereof in soul and body and we believe that his outward coming was not a bare and naked example but hath a real influence and service in its place in and upon all who are saved though all have not that express knowledge thereof yea will thou not confess that infants are saved by Christ who yet have not this express knowâ—edge of him But that I may make it appear that thou denyes the true Christ I shall bring thâ— own words page 17. Where thou expressly denyes that this light which enlightens every man thaâ— comes into the world is Christ and what is this to deny Christ and to deny the Scriptures Testimony of him for said he himself I am the light of the World and said John of him he was the true light that enlightens every man that comes into the world that all through 〈…〉 believe and if all through him might believe which was Johns Testimony then all through him might be saved But thou wilt have this light not to be in Christ but some other light which remained in Adâ—m after his transgression and before the promise of the Mâ—ssiah and stands in every man as a witness for God wheâ—â—by he shall be left without
you by any light whatsoever p. 42. o The work of Redemption is already 〈◊〉 at once in the Crucified bâ—dy without us p. 21. 23. The Opeâ—â—â—ion of the Spirit of Christ within us 〈…〉 Redeem 〈◊〉 p. 23. Thus far R. G. hath shewn himself one while like a Quaker so called having gotten many of their words another while like a Presbyterian or Independant shewing his self-contradiction and instability And what may the Reader think of him but that he hath gathered and learned something from the Quakers or out of their Books though he was never of us However like a perverse Apostate he chiefly smites at them in his enmity chiefly to the injury of his own Soul and Conscience who for all his opposition cannot wholly forget and drive the Quakers principles out of his mind but is forced to confess to the truth of them to his own confusion and overthrow And it 's remarkable that the most of his Pamphlet is confuâ—ed But where he acts the part of a Quaker so called whom he further imitates in this wise viz. R. G. Christ's Death and Sufferings his Resurrection and Righteousness will not avail thee thou remaining in thy self wholly unchanged unsanctified by and through the operation of the Spirit of Christ within thee whereby they may become of use to thee Thou wast dead in Sins and Trespasses and remains so still thou wast a child of wrath as well as others and thou art so still c. And in his 35 page he goes on thus viz What will an Historical faith â—s of things altogether without avail thee while thou hast not the evidence within thy self by a lively faith of thy being redeemed through the Redemption that is in him A â—â—attering hypocritical extolling of Christ in his Offices as King Priest and Prophet without thee while thou deniest him in the exercise of these Offices within thee by the Operation of his Spirit c. And this is thy own condition R. G. as appears by many passages in thy Book contrary to what here thou hast confessed as may plainly be seen in comparing thy contradictions before and who but one presumptious and impudent would have appeared thus publick as thou hâ—â—t done to confute others and to undervalue and oppose the sufficiency of the Light Power and Operation of Christ within as to Redemption Salvation and Justification c. with such a heap of darkness and confusion as thou hast vented who yet otherwhiles art made to confess to the Operation of the Power and Spirit of Christ within whose Light is set over the head of all thy Darkness Deceipt and Enmity and over all such Backsâ—iders as are in the same spirit of Enmity and Opposition with thee such as Râ— Cobbet Elizabeth Atkins and Rob. Rich who is of a Ranting Principle to whom we may add Muggleton or his railing against us who have spread abroad their confused malitious Pâ—mphlets with their lies and slanders against us wherein they do but gratifie malitious spirits Apostates and Ranters And seeing that Michael Stantcliff who came some years amongst us professing the Truth with us and owning the light within and to some yet doth formally seem as if he were a Quaker which appeaâ—ance no doubt he hath found to make for his Interest yet is turned into so much dimness darkness and enmity againâ—â— the People called Quakers as to opprove of this Rob. Goâ—don his Pamphlet â—iled A Testimony to the true Saviour as being an Ingenious clear Piece and that which we could never get through c. As also to help to convey or spread them abroad against those that Preach the true light that enlightenâ— every man that cometh into the world to be Christ c. R. G intending chiefly the people called Quakers against whom he hath insinuated divers forgeries and slanders Wherefore we say to thee M. Stantcliff be ashamed and repent of thy approving and countenancing such a bundle of Confusion against the truth and against an innocent People whom thou once ownâ—dâ—t remember from whence thou art fallen and how thou persistest in enmity and prejudice against Truth and us least the Lord cut thee off and thou end thy days in trouble and anguish we have desired and sought thy good though thou hast rewarded us evil for good And now we wish thy Repentance and pray the Lord forgive thee that thou mayest not end thy days and perish in thy Perverseness and gain-saying Here follows a brief account of some places of Scripture sent to Robert Gordon by Gawin Longworth R. G. his Answer to them Ioh. 1. from 1. verse forward in the beginning was the Word 12. chap. ver 46 I am come a light into the world 15. chap. ver 5. I am the vine ye are the branches Rom. 8. 10. If Christ be in you c. 1. Cor. 1. 24. Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God 2. Cor. 13. 3â— Seeing you seek experience of Christ speaking in me Titâ—â— 2. 14. Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity c. 1. Ioh. 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath life Chap. 4. vâ—r 4. Greater is hâ— that is in you then he that is in the world Robert Gordons Answer to these Scriptures viz. I Have considered the Scriptures thou mentioned and I find that in none of them it is testified who the true Christ our only Saviour is but what he is through the operations of his spirit in Believers called therefore the Anointing within or Christ within but these operations of his spirit within are no where in Scripture called the Lord's Christ our only Saviour And if thou own no other Mediator Christ or Saviour then what is described in these Scriptures thou mentions then necessarily thou disowns the Lord Iesus Christ of Nazareth a man approved of God c. Thus far R. G. telling us of the writings of that enlightned man Iacob Behm Observe Here the â—enour and tendency of R. G's Answer how Antichristian it is he appears here plainly as owning another Mediator Christ or Saviour then that Christ that said I am come a light into the world I am the vine c. and we ask was not he Jesus of Nazareth and of whom it is testified in Scripture Christ in you Christ the power and wisdom of God He that hath the Son hath life who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity c. But R. G. doth not own this Christ to be the Lord 's Christ or Jesus Christ of Nazareth but he must have some other Christ then this Christ that is described in those Scriptures before but dare he say that Iacob Behm owns his doctrine herein for this Christ who is the Word the Light the Christ in Believers the power and wisdom of God speaking in Sainâ—s R. G. deems but as operations of the Spirit and not Christ the Operator Saviour or Redeemer wherein he is greatly mistaken and has out-run himself
work of God within as it hath made many hypocrits and many such merry also over God's witness or light in them which would have wrought good in them had they own'd it to have wrought evil out of them But seeing R. G. hath run into the Priests and Professors doctrine in his confused way and method maintaining their principle of satisfaction and imputation opposing the light and work of Christ or the spirit within as to justification redemption or salvation within Let 's first inquire how he states this satisfaction or work that he thinks was wrought with God by the man Christ but not in man R. G. God said to Adam in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye and because he is God it could not be revoked the justice of God must stand firm in the execution of this sentence he is just and righteous as well as lâ—ving justice to be answered to the full who could break thorough this stir'd up wrath who could have answered the requirings of love and fulfil the requirings of wrath that would hold man captive in death and yet satisfie both Not its light and power in the man Christ or the light enlightning every man that comes into the world not the word alone but Iesus Christ partaking of our flesh and blood as being the Son of the Virgin Mary pag. 19 20. Note his errour in denying the light to be Christ and so opposing Christs Divinity Let the impartial Reader judge of this man's confusion and ignorance herein in these his distinctions about God and Christ and between Christ and the light and power within not owning the light that enlightens every man to be Christ or the Son of God contrary to Scripture whereas the light that enlightens every man is that eternal word that made all things which to say this cannot answer or satisfie love and wrath is a blasphemous opposing the omnipotency and power of God as if he could not satisfie himself in either and his slâ—ghting and debasing the divine light and power of Christ in man and so undervaluing God as if he were no Saviour especially while this man thinks God was so displeased and his wrath so stirred up that it would hold man captive in death unless Christ as the Son of Mary should satisfie and answer this wrath and undergo this death another while in contradiction it was as God man that he satisfied c. which if he take it to be an eternal death or wrath that was threatned on man for disobedience I ask if Christ did undergo that either as God or as man or as both and dare any say plainly that God executed wrath and revenge from himself upon his innocent Son or take vengeance upon the Son of his love or could that be an answering of divine Justice so to take vengeance on the innocent and let the guilty go free with their sins past present and to come and then if all be if all be thus wrought and purchased of God by Christ paid and satisfied for in his crucified body and that for the â—ins of the whole world and in their stead and that for their sins past present and to come then how can God in justice execute wrath or revenge on any for sin if his innocent Son hath undergone it and satisfied it all and that for all men for sins past present and to come And then what manifest contradiction is it for this man to confess to his intercession his ever living to make intercession for them that come to God by him though this we own But how doth this agree with the doctrine of such a rigid or severe satisfaction and payment as before implied For if the Son endured the Fathers wrath to the full and thereby stopâ— it for Priests call it vindictive Justice doth not this â—ender God to be more severe than his Son yea and unjust also As if a Creditor should keep or leave the Debtor in prison and alwaies be interceded to either for his deliverance or forgiveness when his Surety hath paid and satisfied to the utmost farthing that could in the rigour of the law be exacted upon the Debtor which much less can be either mercy forgiveness or remission But if it be granted that forgiveness of sins must be asked at God's hand for Christs sake and that man must repent and be converted that his sins may be forgiven and blotted out and that he may be under God's terms and under an obligation to believe obey and follow the spirit of Christ within in its inward operations and teachings then this confutes this man and all such carnal professors For all is not done without norâ— man absolved or discharged in the Court of Heaven as Priests use to say either from the guilt or punishment of sins past present and to come seeing that all judgment is committed to the Son and men are not acquitted by his sufferings without either from the obligation or obedience of his law within which is that of the spirit or new covenant which is inward but are liable to the censure and judgment thereof if they disobey it and walk contrary to the spirit of truth within wherein we are not without the law to God but under the law to Christ. And God is not satisfied with men in their sins his wrath being revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness of men how ever they may imagine Christ to have satisfied is in their stead and removed it out of God's sight And further as to that death that came over Adam in that day he transgressed it was not the sentence of eternal wrath and destruction given and fulfilled by God but a death from that innocent life and communion which he had with God before as the fruit of his transgression which God foretold and threatned them with before not as from an obligation upon God presently to take full revenge on man or to cut him off for ever the same day he transgressed for that he did not neither was his divine justice such an obligation upon him as to limit him from shewing mercy or forgiveness on repentance and salvation without such a rigid payment or severe kind of satisfaction as is supposed for he said I am a just God and Saviour and besides me there is no Saviour and in his mercy and love to lost man in general he both promised and gave a seed to bruise the Serpents head and to be a ransom attonement and most acceptable and satisfactory sacrifice as a Lamb without spot to God not as the subject of wrath or vindictive Justice but as a sweet smelling sacrifice to God and propitiation for mankind and to be a living example through all not only to end the law and sacrifices without but also to bring the true believer through and beyond the ministration of death condemnation and wrath within into peace and union with Gâ—d who out of his infinite love sent his Son to save man from sin and