Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8. 20. But why dare you say That the practice of Bread Wine and Water was to be held no longer than till Christ came By his coming you intend his coming in Spirit That this is false and contrary to holy Scripture I shall evidently make appear And first I shall begin with the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper which you call Bread and Wine and that the practice of this continues and remains in full force and virtue to the end of the World or until the Second coming or Appearance of Christ in Person and that he is not so come the second time I shall also prove to thee before I have done That the practice of breaking Bread and drinking Wine in remembrance of Christ's Death remains after the coming of Christ in Spirit I prove by these Arguments following First Because the Apostle Paul did receive this from our Saviour as a glorious Appointment and Institution of the Lord Jesus a considerable time after the coming of Christ in Spirit The Promise of the Comforter or Christ's coming in Spirit was performed and fulfilled to the Sainrs some days after his Ascention as may be seen in the second of the Acts and it was some time after this before Paul was converted unto Christ For Paul after the coming of the Spirit according to the Promise of the Father and our Lord Jesus remained in darkness and was a Persecutor of the Saints and yet see I beseech ye what he affirms to the Church of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11. 23. For I received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took Bread and when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me and after the same manner also he took the Cup c. Now if Paul received this after that coming of Christ which you speak of as an Institution and Divine Appointment of the Lord Jesus as it appears plainly he did then that which you affirm is utterly false and to be rejected But Secondly The Apostle did not only receive this from Christ after the coming of Christ in Spirit but also did deliver it as Christ's Appointment to the Saints That which I received of the Lord saith he I also delivered unto yon Thirdly I argue further That this Ordinance doth remain in force and the practice of it to be held up after the coming of Christ in Spirit because the Primitive Saints did abide in the practice of it after the pouring forth of the Spirit according to Christ's Promise as appears Acts 2. 42. They continued in the Apostles Doctrine in breaking of Bread and Prayer compare this with Acts 20. 7 11. also 1 Cor. 11. 20. to the end Fourthly Consider The end of this Ordinance doth remain notwithstanding the pourings forth of the Spirit and therefore the Ordinance must needs remain which is to confirm our Faith in the true Saviour and to keep up our Love to him who gave his Body to be broken and his Blood to be shed for our sakes This is to be done to shew forth his Death until he come And these things considered which hath been said 't is plain it cannot intend his Spiritual Coming or the giving forth the holy Spirit the Comforter according to his promise And that he is not come the Second time without sin to Salvation as you seem to affirm doth appear First Because his coming that day shall be visible Every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. Secondly Because his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives Zech. 14. 4. and he shall come in the same manner as he went up to Heaven Acts. 1. 11. Thirdly Because the Saints which had the highest attainments of the Spirit or to whom Christ was Spiritually come as gloriously as ever he came to any of the Saints did notwithstanding that still expect look and wait for his coming from Heaven See 1 Cor. 1. vers 4 5 6 7. I thank my God alwayes on your behalf for the Grace of God which is given to you by Jesus Christ tht in every thing ye are inriched by him in all utterance and all knowledge even as the Testimony of Christ was confirmed in you mark that So that ye come behind in no gift waiting for his Son from Heaven If Christ was not spiritually come to these who was he come to and yet they waited for his coming The Saints at Thessalonica are said to turn from Idols to serve the true God and to wait for his Son from Heaven 1 Thess 1. 9 10. and unto those that look for him saith the Apostle He shall appear the Second time without sin unto Salvation Heb. 9. 28. The beloved Apostle who injoyed so much of the Spiritual Presence of Christ yet desired and looked for his coming Which clearly shews that his Second coming is another manner of coming than that which you speak of for when he comes he comes with all his Saints and holy Angels with him and when he comes the Graves shall be opened and the Dead shall be raised yea the dead Bodies of Men and Women 1 Thess 4. 16. You say that you are risen from the dead already and Christ is come the Second time but be assured of this you will find another Resurrection Coming and Judgment ere long than this I could wish it were so indeed that thou hadst part in the true work of Regeneration that so in that day thou mightest have part in the first Resurrection for the dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thess 4. which cannot intend any other save the dead bodies of the Saints who are fallen asleep or gone to the dust But because I have somewhat to say in the Vindication of Baptism which you call Water I shall proceed to that for as you and other Quakers deny the continuance of the Lord's Supper so also you affirm that the practise of Water-Baptism was to continue but till Christ came in Spirit Now how false this is may appear First from the Commission Matth. 28. 19 20. where Christ gave forth this blessed Ordinance All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth Go therefore teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded yon and lo I am with you alwayes to the end of the world Now that the Baptism here spoken of is that of Water is evident because the Disciples are commanded or injoyned to be the Administraters or Dispensers of it To baptize with the holy Spirit is the alone Work Prerogative and Office of Jesus Christ and it never was in the power of any Apostle or Disciple of Christ to do it though the Spirit was
Obedience either to the Law without or Law or Light within they are like to fall short of it because they seek it not by Faith they stumble at that stumbling stone viz. the Lord Jesus Christ and thereby miss of that glorious Redemption once purchased for us by the Sacrifice of the Cross Do not let any so grievously beguile thee as to cause thee to conclude That the Sacrifice of our blessed Saviour's Crucified Body once offered to bear the Sins of many was but only as a pattern or figure of things which must be wrought again and done over in us and so conclude that this Light and Teacher within which you say you know is the true Christ and that there is not another and that thou must by the Power and Means of it attain to the same degree of Holiness and Perfection which was in our blessed Mediatour and so by that inherent Holiness alone wrought in thee place thy hope and confidence fixing thy Faith on a mysterious Sacrifice and Offering within and not having a dependency on that glorious Sacrifice of Christ's Crucified Body without which was once offered to take away sin Heb. 9. 26. By which one Offering he hath perfected for ever those that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. The Atonement is already made Redemption Reconciliation and Justification hath been fully compleated and finished in and by our Lord Jesus for us once for all The Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all Isa 53. 6. He was made sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. The Debt is paid and Satisfaction made yet I fear notwithstanding the Teacher which is so near thee of which thou speakest thou still remainest in Prison and Darkness not knowing the way out of thy captivated state which is by the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant How doth Ignorance and Unbelief as chains and fetters bind many in Satans kingdom notwithstanding the glorious Freedom purchased by the Lord Jesus The Price may be laid down for the Captive and yet the Prisoner remain bound the work of Faith with power I have cause to doubt you are yet a stranger to though you speak of very high Attainments your judgment is corrupt notwithstanding your confidence as further may appear Thou sayest That to be a Convert in the way I do approve of will do thee no good at all for there is nothing of the Cross of Christ in it and thou sayest thou seest it vanity Now to convince you of your great mistake and to make appear that I am acquainted with the power of true Conversion and that it is the same that Christ approves of Consider that I do own and approve of that Conversion that is taught by Christ and his Apostles in the holy Scriptures that a man must Repent that true Repentance is a through change of the mind and that it consisteth in these three things A clear sight and sense of sin and of the woful state and condition of lost and fallen Man upon the account of transgression And Secondly Godly sorrow contrition and brokenness of heart in the true sense of the heavy weight and burden of it And Thirdly an utter abhorrence turning away from and forsaking of it And also I do hold and maintain that Faith is required and must be wrought with power in the hearts of the Penitent whereby the Creature turns to Christ and applyes the vertue of his Merits Blood and Righteousness to his own Soul and hereby the Soul is translated out of daakness into light and so cometh to experience the in-dwelling of Christ's Spirit in his heart by which he comes to hate that which formerly he loved and loveth that which once he hated for notwithstanding I do plead for the imputed Righteousness of Christ Faith and Interest in the Satisfaction and Atonement made once and not again to be made by his blood yet do I also plead for spiritual Conformity to him both in his Death and Resurrection and that a man must die to sin and rise to newness of life For though Christ paid the Debt and laid down a Price which the Father accepted of yet till the coming of his Spirit and Grace with power into my heart for the binding of the strong man Satan and killing of my Corruptions my Soul was not brought out of the horrible Pit This blessed Change I through the Grace of God in my measure do experience and this is the conversion I approve of by the power and means of which I am laid at Christ's feet wholly exalting Him and Free-grace who did not only work Salvation for me but hath helped me to apply it having wrought this glorious work of Regeneration in me by which I am made willing to follow and obey him as my King and Sovereign And this is not to be less or more Righteous than what God accepteth and approveth of and it is my trouble and grief thou dost not Is here nothing of the Cross of Christ appearing to you and is this vanity Surely you would otherwise conclude were not your Light Darkness But to proceed Thou tellest me thou dost not say the keeping of the Commandments of Christ is vanity God forbid but to strain the Commandments of Christ to a form of Worship which is not according to the Spirit to Bread Wine and Water which was to be held in practice but till Christ come and Christ is come the second time c. Answ I shall answer thee in this And first if you mean and conclude we strain the Commands of Christ so to the Ordinances of the Lord's Supper and Baptism that we own no other Ordinances and Commands you falsly accuse us for those things you mention which Christ requires we also own namely Love your Enemies bless them that curse you and pray for them that persecute you c. We plead dear Sister for universal Obedience these things ought to be done and the other ought not to be left undone But again who of us go about to strain the Commands of God to a form of Worship which is not according to the Spirit that form of Worship or Doctrine that the Apostle commended the Saints for obeying Rom. 6. and abiding in was not contrary but according to the Spirit of God if you own the Holy Scriptures to be indited by the Spirit of which Form of Doctrine those Ordinances were part which you hint at as these Scriptures prove Acts 2. 38 41 42. Acts 10. 47. Rom. 6. 3 4. Heb. 6. 1 2. And if it be contrary to the Spirit you are led by to own those Commands of Christ which the Primitive Saints did own and were commended for holding as they were delivered you have cause to conclude the Spirit you are led by is not the Spirit of God for God's Spirit doth not guide contrary to the Word and Doctrine of his Son Joh. 16. 13 14. To the Law and
reconciled to God by the operation of this Light or Christ within Not only that it is a cause but the alone only chief and procuring cause without having respect to the Sacrifice of Christ's crucified Body which was nailed to the Cross and that Christ in the outward in his death and sufferings was but only a Patern or Example of that which must be wrought over again in us though some of them I do confess have been pleased to say That Christ's death and suffering without upon the Cross was more than a Patern or Exemplar for they say he did put an end thereby to the Types and Shadows of the Ceremonial Law c. but not that he reconciled us thereby and satisfied the Justice of God and that through his Righteousness and Merits imputed unto us in believing we stand acquitted and shall be saved but contrariwise it is affirmed That every one that comes to be justified must come to witness the same inherent holiness and perfection that was in our Lord Jesus Christ and in that perfect Obedience of theirs by following the teachings of the Light of their own Consciences or Christ within they place their hope faith and dependance and thus they seem not to be beholding to the Man Christ Jesus nor need his intercession who poured forth his blood without the gate of Jerusalem to wash and cleanse our Souls as the vertue thereof is applyed by Faith unto our Consciences for where the Scripture speaks of God being reconciled unto us and of our Salvation and remission of sins it is plainly held forth being done already for us by Christ's death and suffering without and as being done and compleated by that one Offering of his though I confess as I have told thee we receive not the benefit of it till by the help of the Spirit we are made able to apply it to our Souls which application of Christ's blood doth work that change in the Soul which I have mentioned already to you about Conversion That this is according to the Doctrine of the holy Apostles see these Scriptures Rom. 3. 24 25 26 27. Acts 4. 12. Rom. 5. 10. For when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son 2 Cor. 5. 18. Heb. 10. 14. Heb. 9. 14. vers 25 26 28. Now how contrary this Doctrine is to the principles of those People called Quakers may appear to you were you not too much given up to blindness And God forbid that ever I should own their Principle of the Light in all that doth so clearly tend to the razing out the grand Fundamentals of the Gospel You bid me Come out of my beggarly Elements and turn to the Light within and believe in it and 't will certainly take away my sins Answ Dare you call Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and Obedience to him who hath wrought Redemption and Salvation for me and revealed this by his Word and Spirit and work'd it in me beggarly Elements Shall those holy Appointments of Jesus Christ namely Baptism and the Supper of our Lord be denyed by thee and condemned as beggarly Elements Was not our Lord Jesus himself baptized in Waâ—er notwithstanding he had so much of the holy Spirit in him and was not Paul and Cornelius though they had the Spirit in such a wonderful manner baptized in Water And did not all the Primitive Saints walk in that Order and Communion that is owned by me and my Brethren of the baptized Churches And were not the Saints commended for owning and holding the Ordinances as they were once delivered unto them and would you have me leave the footsteps of the Flock to walk in your by-path God forbid Those Ordinances that you call beggarly Elements have been made rich sweet and glorious Appointments and Ordinances to my Soul Indeed 't is no marvel if you deny the Sign who do deny him who is thereby signified you denying the Substance viz. a crucified Christ I see you are naturally led to deny that which doth so clearly shadow him forth but under his shadow I have with the Spouse sate down and his fruit is and hath been sweet unto my taste And therefore do I write unto you that you might have fellowship with us for in some measure we can say through Grace our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ Praises and Halilujah to God for ever who hath given us that witness in our selves of which thou speakest that we can experience the Power of Christ's Spirit risen in us for our Sanctification and Renovation as well as Christ was raised from the dead for our Justification Thou boastest of the kernel as if thou hadst found it without the shell be not mistaken the Power and the Form the Sign and that which is thereby signified God hath joyned together I grant a Person may find the Shell and have no kernel in it have a form of Godliness but deny the Power but rare is it to find the kernel without the shell If they are ashamed of all they have done saith the Lord shew them the form of my house Ezek. 43. 11. The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Acts 2. 47. and they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of Bread and in Prayers vers 42. But lest I should be too large I shall hasten to the rest of your Letter in which you repeat some of my words which were in that former Letter I wrote unto you which are as followeth Thou sayest Sure I am that those Persons who deny the Man Christ Jesus to have wrought Salvation for them have no Salvation at all and if they repent not of their evil shall one day be set amongst the Goats and not amongst the Sheep of Christ That is very true Brother but art not thou one of them that deny the Man Christ Jesus whom John saw clothed with a garment down to the feet and girt about the paps with a golden girdle c. by the same Spirit the pure in heart see God for Christ is the true God and everlasting Life but to know Christ after the Flesh which thou and multitudes aim at The Apostle saith Though I have known Christ after the flesh yet from henceforth I know him so no more Indeed those that cry up carnal things for Ordinances may stand amongst the Goats Answ 'T is true I did say that such who deny the Man Christ Jesus to have wrought Salvation for them have no Salvation at all and is it any more than the Apostle Peter speaketh 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. Those false Prophets who privily bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them he doth affirm do bring upon themselves swift destruction c. I charge none in particular and would to God there were none in England guilty herein but why do you conclude or think that I do deny the Man Christ Jesus that John saw who
Word near in their hearts of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a true Preacher to turn them to the Light within and how shall they Preach except they are sent to turn people from darkness to Light and surely Brother that Prophet which Moses said God would raise up whom we should hear in all things he preaches in our hearts and we hear his voice and follow him Answ These are the words of your Letter and I shall Answer you but first of all I cannot but take notice what a sad judging and censorious Spirit you are of I thought Sister you durst not have spoken after this manner do you think that none of the Baptists did ever hear Christ's voice and follow him surely you may conclude that some of them did for the Primitive Saints were baptized in Water and so might as well be called Baptist's as any now and yet they I do suppose you think did hear Christ's voice and follow him but do you judge that none of the Baptists now do depart from iniquity doubtless you may have ground to conclude That some of them are as holy Men and Women as any are amongst you though they do not look to be justified by their own inherent holiness We do not believe 't is possible to attain to such a degree of perfection as to be as pure from sin as our Lord Jesus Christ was we see there is need to pray as our Lord hath taught Forgive us our trespasses and that we have need of Christ's Intercession for us it wounds and grieves us because we are attended with such a body of sin and death we find a continual need of a supply of Grace we find when we would do good evil is present with us if you have no evil thoughts nor no need to pray Forgive us our sins nor of Christ's Intercession that you have all strength and no weakness all light and no darkness that you are perfect not only in part but also in the highest degree and know as you are known having no defect in your understandings if these things be so you do excel any of the Baptists but I fear there are evil thoughts weaknesses defects in the best of you and if so you must go to the perfect righteousness of another viz. the Lord Jesus Christ of necessity or else you are undone for ever notwithstanding all your holiness which you above others make your boast of You speak of calling on the Name of the Lord. I know not what such should call upon the Name of the Lord for that are so perfect as some Quakers say they are if they have need of any thing if they are not taken up into the fruition of God they are short of that glorious estate of perfection of which they speak But again you say How shall they call upon him on whom they have not believed and how shall they believe on him Christ the Word near in their hearts whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a true Teacher to turn them to the Light within Sister you make strange reading of the Scripture there are no such sayings in all the Book of God I observe one thing and that is this you conclude that the very work of a true Preacher is to exhort people to turn to the Light within I shall in the first place make this appear to the contrary and do affirm That none of the true Gospel-Preachers did ever teach such a Doctrine as this is which you speak of and which the Quakers preach namely bid the People turn to the Light within I have carefully examined the Scriptures upon this account and I find David charging and counselling his Son Solomon to walk in the wayes of God and to keep his Statutes and Commandments as they were written in the Law of Moses 1 Kings 2. 3. and in Psal 119. 9. 't is written Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way the Answer and direction is by taking heed thereto according to thy Word 'T is not said by turning to the Light within Now are you clean saith Christ through the Word which I have spoken to you Christ directs his Spouse to go forth by the footsteps of the Flock not to look to the Light within Cant. 1. 8. but to go forth and tread in the same steps that the Saints and faithful Children of God walked in in former times The Prophet Jeremiah also doth not Preach the Doctrine which Quakers do turn to the Light within but bids them Stand in the Wayes and ask for the old Paths which is the good Way and walk therein Jer. 6. 16. and they shall find rest for their Souls Moreover Isaiah that Evangelical Prophet and glorious Preacher of God's mind and counsel to the Children of Men when he came to understand that the People would seek to Deceivers and lying Spirits though they might cry up Light and Power never so much to be in them he straitway sends us To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word 't is because there is no light in them Isa 8. 20. he doth not direct to the Light within but to the Law and Testimony Also the Prophet Malachi commands and counsels the People to remember the Law of Moses commanded him in Horeb Mal. 4. 4. But again when all the People flocked to John Baptist who was a great and glorious Preacher yea chosen and sent of God if ever any were and when they cryed out What shall we do he did not command them to turn to the Light within but contrariwise pointed to Christ without him whom the Spirit descended and did rest upon You say How shall they believe without a true Preacher to turn them to the Light within Now Sister you may see that none of those true Preachers did preach any such Doctrine But to go on let us see whether Christ or his Apostles which he chose and sent forth as the great Ministers and Embassadours of the Gospel did ever give such counsel unto men or publish such a Doctrine to the world viz. Turn to the Light within Pray observe the Answer to the young man that came running to him asking him What he must do to inherit eternal life Christ sent him presently to the Scripture to see what he read there and bad him Sell that which he had and give it to the poor and follow him and he should have treasure in Heaven and not one word of turning to the Light within Also the Lord Jesus Christ doth not bid the Jews look within but search the Scriptures Joh. 5. 39. But to proceed Let us see what counsel the Apostle Peter gave to those Jews that were pricked in their hearts Acts 2. 37. who cryed out What shall we do he doth not exhort them to mind the Light which was in their Consciences and turn to that and believe in that but said he Repent and be baptized
given many times as the answer of their Prayers their Supplications to God for to give it plainly shews it was not in their power of the Apostles to give it Secondly That Baptism which is here intended which our Lord commanded his Apostles to baptize with was the Baptism which after his Ascension they did baptize with and that 't is evident was Water Can any man forbid Water saith Peter Acts 10. 47. that these should not be baptized c. 't is said They went both down into the Water both Philip and the Eunuch Acts 8. 38. Now the Baptism here commanded must needs remain to be practised to the end of the World Because whatsoever is here given forth by Christ is given forth as he is King and Mediatour of the New Covenant and as part of his last Will and Testament and his last Will and Testament stands in full force and vertue to the end of the World unalterable and whosoever brings any other Gospel let him be accursed Thirdly Because 't is the mind of Christ that whatsoever he Commanded them should be taught successively to the Nations And his Spiritual Presence being promised unto the end of the World to all those that did keep and observe whatsoever he there commanded them plainly proves that the practice of all those Ordinances were to be kept up to the end of the World But again To prove that the practice of Water-Baptism doth remain in full force and vertue after the coming of Christ in Spirit I need not go further to make it appear than the second of the Acts. Christ made good the Promise of the Comforter or his coming to his Disciples in Spirit as you may see in the beginning of that Chapter by the help and power of which Spirit Peter preach'd to those Jews that had put Christ to death and many of them being pricked in their hearts cryed out What shall we do Then said Peter vers 38. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ and you shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit And vers 41. 't is said Those that gladly received the Word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand Souls This observe was after that coming of Christ which you speak of Do you think that the Apostle Peter in the Name and Authority of Christ Jesus would have commanded so many persons to be baptized if he had understood Water-Baptism ceased at the pourings forth of the Spirit or the practice of it was to remain no longer Besides was not the Eunuch baptized in Water after the coming of Christ in Spirit Acts 8. 41 42. and many in the City of Samaria and was not Paul baptized by Ananias Acts 9. and Cornelius and those with him after the coming of Christ in Spirit with many others that I might mention and yet you very ignorantly affirm That the practice of it was to remain no longer than till Christ so came as aforesaid I might now come to Answer another Objection that some of your judgment bring against this Appointment of Christ and then come to examine the remaining part of your Letter 't is grounded from Paul's words 1 Cor. 1. 14. I thank God I baptized none of you save Crispus and Gaius Observe by the way That though this is brought as an Objection against Baptism yet the Objector doth thereby confess the Baptism here intended is that of Water and then by your own confession Paul baptized after the coming of the Comforter or Christ in Spirit But you say he thanks God he baptized no more Indeed too many by them if the practice of it were out of doors before But to return you an Answer take his next words for it he gives you the reason why he thanked God he baptized no more 't is not because the practice then was not in force but lest any should say he baptized in his own Name many amongst them were grown so carnal as to slight or else to idolize their Teachers and ready to accuse the Ministers of Christ with unfaithfulness as if they did that in their own Names which they did in the Name and Authority of Christ Jesus and this was the cause of his speaking those words But 't is objected That he doth affirm Christ sent him not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel Answ Paul doth not intend by his so speaking that he had no Authority from Christ to baptize but rather to show that his chief work was to Preach the Gospel He gives us to understand that to baptize was not the alone and chief business he was sent to do but his great work was to Preach the Gospel This word not is not alwayes used as an absolute Negative for then Christ utterly forbids all outward labour Joh. 6. 27. where he commands them Not to labour for the meat which perisheth c. and by the same Argument we may conclude also that Adam was not at all deceived because Paul saith expresly 1 Tim. 2. 14. Adam was not deceived but the Woman It is clear the Apostle meaneth Adam was not first deceived I might give divers instances of the like kind but this shall at present suffice as to the Answer of this Objection I shall now come to examine the next part of your Letter these are your very words being a Repetition and Reply to some part of that which I formerly wrote unto you Thou speakest of the Body of Christ after he was risen again and sayest That after that he spake with his Disciples and gave them Commandments that then he Ascended with the same Body into Heaven which words are not agreeable to the Scripture Brother be not too wise in thy own conceit for it is no where said That flesh and blood is Christ but Jesus Christ came in the flesh Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. But one in a certain place saith That he first descended into the lower parts of the Earth and he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things Ephes 4. 9 10. Beware at any time thou opens thy mouth against the true Light that lightneth every man which cometh into the World for it is the pure Principle which is owned by the scorned People called Quakers and ought to be owned by thee also Oh Brother come out of your beggarly Elements and turn to the Light which reproves for sin and believe in it and it will certainly take away thy sin Surely he is come yea he is come felt heard and understood c. Answ What I formerly wrote unto you concerning Christ and of his appearing to his Disciples after he rose again from the dead and that he ascended with the same body into Heaven is expresly according to the words of the holy Scriptures And for being wise in my own conceit I have otherwise learned Christ and the wisdom
I have it is from above and I dare not be wise above what is written But why dost thou deny the flesh or body of Christ Oh! that ever my Sister should yield so far to Satan and Delusion as to affirm That that Body of flesh and bone that was born of the Virgin and nailed to the Cross is no where said to be the Christ but that the Christ was in him in that body of flesh that was crucified It is evident that you deny the Man Christ Jesus or he to be the Christ that was hanged on the tree or put to death between two Thieves For if the Light or Power in that Person be the only Christ of God distinct and apart from the body that was crucified on the Cross then it followeth plainly and may appear to any that your chief Doctrine leads you to deny that ever the Christ of God and true Saviour died for the Light Power or Godhead whereof you speak could not be so crucified and nailed to the Cross And if that Man to wit Jesus of Nazareth was upon no other account called the Christ but meerly and alone because the true Christ was in him Why may not any other man in whose flesh or body Christ is manifested and doth dwell be called the Christ as well as he who was born of the blessed Virgin Alas poor Soul thou didst never learn this Doctrine of Christ nor from the holy Scriptures Thou seemest to be one of G. Whitehead's Scholars and H. W. The latter doth affirm That Christ was never seen with any outward or bodily eye Bear with me if I am large in my Answer to you concerning this thing for my Soul is wounded in the thoughts of what you here write to see you plainly deny the true Saviour it would rejoyce my heart if God should have so much mercy for you as to recover your feet out of this evil snare I bless God for the Grace which hath been given unto me in Christ through the Gospel which hath not only enlightned my Soul into the saving knowledge of a crucified Jesus and glorious Light of the New Covenant but hath also discovered with much clearness unto me the great darkness of these men who cry up Light and Power within And I shall endeavour to make appear the Nature of this Wile of Satan and Cheat of Antichrist by God's assistance You do imagine that I am over-wise or wise in my own conceit because I affirm That Jesus Christ is a Man consisting of flesh and bone and that he ascended with the same body he had after he rose again from the dead Whether this be according to the Scriptures or the Doctrine of yours let it now be proved That inward Principle of Light and Power that was in that Person which was crucified or the Light which is in every man that cometh into the World is the true Christ Saviour and Mediatour you and other Quakers do affirm which I utterly deny yet nevertheless I would have none to suppose in the least that I do deny the glorious Deity or Godhead of our Lord Jesus Christ For though the inward Power or Godhead I assert is not the Christ considered distinct and apart from the Manhood or Humane Nature yet do I according to the holy Scripture from my heart believe that Jesus Christ is truly God Eternal God being from everlasting with the Father and the express image of his Person Heb. 1. Of the Son he saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever Heb. 1. 8. The Word was in the beginning with God and was God And though he is verily God yet also is he truly Man The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and this Emanuel or God with us God in the Nature of Man is the Christ he was in the form of a Servant a man approved of God Acts 2. 22. A man of sorrows Isa 53. 3. and yet thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2. 6. being Davids Root and Davids Off-spring And this is that Glorious Mystery of God manifest in Flesh not God manifest in the flesh of every man and woman but God manifest in the flesh of our Mediatour in that particular body of Christ prepared for him by the Father or God-man in a wonderful mysterious union God and Man in an admirable manner united together in one Person that so he might thereby reconcile God and Man the offended Creator and the offending Creature and remove the Enmity upon the account of transgression And since I perceive your darkness so great upon this account that you conclude the Godhead Divine Nature of the glorious Light and Power that was in him viz. Jesus of Nazareth that was born of the Virgin distinct from his body or Humane Nature is the Christ To refute you pray observe what the Angel speaks unto the Virgin Thou shalt Conceive and bear a Son and shalt call his Name JESUS He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest Mary conceived the true Christ in her Womb and laid him in Swadling Clothes Luke 2. 6 7. Moreover the Angel testified unto the Shepherds That that very Child which Mary brought forth was the Christ Unto you is born this day observe it in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Also our Saviours words to the Woman of Samaria one would think might convince you concerning this matter She was ignorant of the true Christ I know the Messiah shall come saith she and when he comes he will tell us all things Joh. 4. 25. Jesus saith unto her I that speak unto thee am He. He did not say the Light which is within me is he viz. the Christ and true Messiah but I that speak unto thee The Apostle Peter's Testimony agrees with this Thou art Christ the Son of the living God He that was the very Son of God was also the Son of Man He took not on him saith the Author to the Hebrews the nature of Angels but he took on him the Seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. Moreover after our Lord Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to his Disciples they being in a maze supposing they had seen a Spirit he said unto them Behold my hands and my feet it is I my self handle me and see a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have and when he had so said he shewed them his hands and his feet If this Person who shewed his Disciples his hands and feet was not the true Christ or if he really were not a man consisting of a Body of flesh and bone what will you make of his Expressions But again Doth not the words of John Baptist very clearly refute you The people asked whether he was the Christ or no He Answered them He was not But he told them That he which sent him to baptize with Water the same said unto me Vpon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descend and
was clothed in garments down to his feet c. I do believe that he which St. John saw in that Vision was the Lord Jesus yea the Man Christ Jesus and I do not deny but have laboured to prove that he is the true God and yet truly Man This Man saith the Author to the Hebrews because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood Heb. 7. 24. And then again in the tenth Chapter But this Man after he had offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God Heb. 10. 12. Had he not been Man how could he have died For observe Rev. 1. 18. I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore c. The self same He that visionally did appear to John once was dead but so it cannot be said of the Light or Power that was in him and therefore here you are again at a loss But you bring Paul's words 2 Cor. 5. 16. as an Objection against what we affirm concerning Jesus Christ Though I have known Christ after the flesh yet from henceforth know I him so no more Do you suppose that the Apostle meaneth by these words and expressions that he once knew Christ a Man confistâ—ng of flesh and bone but now he knew him so no more and that now he was not a Man but only a Spirit and Light within Sister you are a very bad expounder of the Scriptures if this be it that you would have for observe with care what the Apostle in the former part of the same verse doth assert he speaks the very same of Man that he speaks of Christ Wherefore henceforth we know no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now we henceforth know him so no more Do you suppose the Apostle knew no man to consist of flesh and bone For as he and other Saints did not know Christ after the flesh so they knew no Man after the flesh therefore it is evident you wrest the words of the Apostle And because I perceive you and others also are found abusing this Text and missing the true sense and main drift and intention of the Apostle therein I shall indeavour to help your understandings in opening and explaining this place of holy Scripture which so many stumble at And in the first place it may not be amiss if you observe what the Apostle in Rom. 3. 1 2. and in other places doth declare of the great advantages Israel after the flesh had over the Gentiles and yet also sheweth us That they of themselves were no better than others but that both Jews and Gentiles were all under sin and here in this 2 Cor. 5. he shews us that all were dead and those Christ died for that they which henceforth live might not live unto themselves but unto him that died for them and rose again and manifest and clear it is by the holy Scriptures That the Lord Jesus was given for the Salvation of the Gentiles as well as the Jews though for a time there was a limitation as to the Ministration of the Gospel respecting the Gentiles Matth. 10. 6. yet since the death of Christ the Partition Wall being broken down Ephes 2. 11 12. The Apostle doth make appear that the Gentile-Believers were in as good a condition and in the like capacity with the Jews Gal. 6. 15. and therefore doth affirm That henceforth he knew no man after the flesh that is he esteems those of the Circumcision and those of the Uncircumcision alike in Christ Jesus Now the word know or to know hath various acceptations but here I understand it doth hold forth to esteem regard allow or to approve of by way of preference and so the word is taken 1 Thess 5. 12. Rom. 7. 15. Psal 1. 6. 31. 7. 1 Cor. 8. 3. And as God's knowledge of us doth imply his approbation 2 Tim. 1. 19. So his not knowing the wicked doth hold forth his rejection of them Matth. 7. 23. chap. 25. 12. Job 9. 21. Know I no man after the flesh by after the flesh is meant the Seed of Abraham by natural generation who seemed to have a confidence in the flesh and boasted they had Abraham for their Father concluding it is like from thence that God also was their Father not understanding that the Children of the flesh were not counted for the Seed Gal. 3. 29. Henceforth that is since the death of Christ as in the verses going before and from thence it is that he grounds this Argument wherefore hencefore know we no man after the flesh God made a difference before as Acts 10. 11. 11 2 3. Acts 15. 9. but now it is otherwise Again he also makes an instance of Christ himself who came of that same stock and lineage Rom. 9. 5. that henceforth he knew Christ no more with that difference and distinction he having by his death compleated the work he came to do he had put an end to that former dispensation Old things are done away and all things are become new If the Lord please to open your eyes you may see this to be the mind of the Spirit and intention of the Apostle and not that which you would infer from thence As touching what you speak concerning carnal Ordinances you speak you know not what you call that carnal and outward which Christ and Saints call Spiritual you have cause to blush and be ashamed for calling any of the holy Ordinances and Appointments of Christ low and carnal things I have spoken of the Spiritualness of them already and therefore shall proceed to the next thing you speak of Smiting of my fellow Servant take heed lest you your self should therein be guilty I would not smite such whom Christ smiteth not and my purpose is to heal such whom Satan hath smitten and wounded You ask me Whether I am one of the Gazers that look for Christ's Personal Reign you say the eyes of all such are blind for Christ is come Answ Some of those Gazers and Waiters was Paul Peter and John yea all the Primitive Saints for though Christ was come in Spirit to them as gloriously as he is come to any now yet they waited as I have already proved for Christ's coming from Heaven do you think they were all blind I shall proceed to that which remains of your Letter these are your words viz. Thou sayest Christ's Sheep hear his voice and follow him and have respect to all his Commands These are the sayings of Christ but I question whether ever any Baptist did hear his voice or did follow him be not offended for doth not the Scripture say That he that names the Name of Christ must depart from iniquity than he indeed that calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved and how shall they call upon Christ the Light within of whom they have not believed and how shall they believe on him Christ the