New-Testament And instead of a Reply Francis tells us of his experimental interest in that Text saying that he was washed and justified in himself from his sins and at length he told us how to wit in some measure Hereupâ—n â—emanded what the sins in particular were from which he was in himself washed and justified in some measure whether it were from 〈◊〉 or Drunkâ—ness Oathes or Adultery he replied I am not to tell thee then more seriously I requested the Assembly to take notice of his want of knowledge in the Scriptures inasmuch as that he makes justification from sin not only a work withâ—n him but to be daily wrought in himself by measure or degrees which assertion of his is directly contrary to the manifold Scriptures of truth which proved the third Argument to wit that our justification from sins was at once finished and perfected without 〈◊〉 on the Cross by the offering of the one body of Jesus Christ one for all and so already doâ—e by Jesus Christ and in being in him our head nevertheless it was readily granted by me sc that all things relating to our washing and justification from sins by that one sacrifice of the body of Christ as above is to be believed in for the remission of sins and for the making of that blessed work so already finished effectual in us it is to be received and wrought not at once but by degrees and in measure by the working and operation of the Spirit of God in us until Mortality be swallowed up of life hereunto agrees the words of the Apostle Paul 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. The man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all to be testified in due time Gave referring to the time past the work of ransome being already done and perfected To be testified i. e. by the spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. and bâ— its effects in the hearts of Believeâ—s â—â—due time i. e. in Gods appointed time so then when the spirit saith as above sc That the Man Jesus Christ gaâ—e himself a ransome For all i e. for all them by whom the ranâ—â—mer is believed on and in whom â—he virtue and effâ—cts of the ransome are by the spirit influenced 〈…〉 these things are according to the Scriptures giveâ— by the conspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 6 whereas this Doctor 's new Divinity to wit That he is in himself washed and justified from his sinâ— in some measure it is most false and dangerous Doctrine for it doth clearly deny that the Mâ—ssias Jesus Christ of 〈◊〉 hath at once by his own crucified boâ—y without uâ— on the Crosse finished Tranâ—â—ressâ—â—n and 〈…〉 all which and much more is the joynt Testimony of the Prophets aâ—d Apostles concerning the Man Jesus Christ and the work 〈…〉 some effected by him for sinners while 〈…〉 to God 〈…〉 Note that this truth doth â—â—lly answereth Quakers caâ—il about this matter how is sin say they finished without a Man while no good is wrought within him and seeing as they further say Christ works all things in us by his Spirit how then can all things be finished by Christ without us before any good is wrought by him in us Answ It is most necessarily presupposed that all things were finished by the Man Jesus Christ as above explained for satisfaction to his Fathers justice for sin before we could receive that satisfaction by Faith or its effects by the spirit within us Now it s most certain that before Faith with its fruits and effects was wrought in us by the spirit we were unbelievers ungodly unjust and enemies to God in our minds by wicked works Col. 1. 21. then according to right reason if the one had not been first wrought by Jesus Christ without us it had been altogether impossible for the oâ—her to have been wrought in us or received by Faith and to witnessed unto by us consider once more if the Man Iesus Christ had not first given himself a ransome for our sins we could not have received it by Faith nor could it have been Testified or witnessed unto by us Moreover let it be well observed that all the righteousness of Sanctification that is in us from Christ is but a fruit of that righteousness of Iustification which â—esus Christ of Nazareth wrought out by his own personal obedience and sufferings upon the Crosse yea all the graces and operations of the Spirit wrought in us were thereby merited and purchased for us Therefore Francis your being in your self washed and justified from your sins in some measure is plainly to deny that one Propitiatory Sacrifice of the one crucified body of the true Man Iesus Christ which can be no other then a wretched design to blot out of our hearts the blessed Name and Remembrance of that one great propitiation once offered for sins together with the redemption righteousness and reconciliation to God as already in Christ our head and surety purchased and perfected for us until no other righteousness or redemption be known but that of obedience to the Light that unbloody Redeemer which is ye say in every man that comes into the World and thus so much obedience to the Idol-light within so much redemption washing justifying and no more Here hence Francis comes thus in some measure in thy self this is the voice of your Law-working spirit within teaching that he that doth these things shall live by them The Pope without is become a Quakers Light within I have now done with the enlargements upon his affirmation to wit That he was In some measure washed and justified in himself from his sins The next Apparition is of William Bullock again And he tells us the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from sin Answ 1. I prayed him to tell me where I might find those words as uttered by him he had been taught his Answer sc It is Scripture But I told him that he had according to a Quakers practice mâ—ngled and abused that holy Text of Scripture intended by him Namely Rom. 8. 2. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and â—â—ath But he repeated Vs for Me and free from sin for free from the law of sin aâ—d left out the word Death 2. I desired him to frame his Argument to prove the matter controverted sc That a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is the true not the false Christ But no Argument from the Text nor any thing like it was alledged by him long faâ—ting perhaps made him so empty Thereâ—ore 3. I said That it is the Law of the Spirit of life not in a Quaker but in Christ Jesus and that there is not nor ever was any other Jesus Christ a Savâ—our from sin but the Holy Child Jesus born of Mary in Bethlehem the City of David Luk. 2. 4 11. which Saviour is not to be sound in any Quaker and therefore this place of Scripture
builders which is become the head of the corner neither is there Salvation in any other for there is none other Name sc then the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth under Heaven given among Men whereby we must be saved Acts 10 38 39 40 42 43. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power Whom they Jews slew and hanged on a â—ree Him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly And he commanded us to Preach unto the People and to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins From these Texts of Scripture the 1st Argument did arise To wit If Jesus Christ of Nazareth a Man approved of God among the People of Israel be the true Christ and only Saviour then a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true Christ But Jesus Christ of Nazareth a Man approved of God among the People was and is the true Christ and our only Saviour therefore a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true but false Christ Arg. 2. Because the Saints of God by the direction of his Spirit have alwayes acknowledged the Man Jesus Christ to be their true and only Saviâ—ur as in Luk. 2. 25 26 27 28. 29 30 31. And behold there was a Man in Jerusalem whose Name was Simeon and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lords Christ and he came by Spirit into the Temple and when the Parents brought in the Child Jesus then he took him up in his Arms and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people c Joh. 20. 27 28. Then said Jesus unto Thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing and Thomas answered and said unto him by the spirit of Faith my Lord and my God Joh. 4. 42. And said unto the Woman now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him the Man Christ ver 29. our selves and we know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the World From these Scriptures the Second Argument was Formed sc If the Saints of God have by the Holy Spirits direction alwayes acknowledged the Man Jesus Christ to be the true Christ and only Saviour then a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true Christ But the Saints of God have by the Spirits direction alwayes acknowled the Man Jesus Christ for their true and only Saviour Therefore a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true but false Christ Arg. 3. Because the true Christ and our only Saviour did at once without us in and by his one crucified body on the Cross finish and compleat the work and office of a Saviour as in Heb. 10. 12 14. By the which will we are Sanctified that is Saved through the Offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all And this man after he had offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God for by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified Heb. 2. 14. Forasmuch then as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood he Jesus ver 9. also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil 1 Pet. 2. 24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tre and in 1 Pet. 3. 18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to Death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit Eph. 2. 15. 16. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity having slain the enmity in himself on the Cross so making peace and in Chap. 5. 2. As Christ hath given himself for us an offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Heb. 9. 26. But now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself and in Col. 1. 22. In the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable â—n his sight From these Scriptures the third Argument resulted viz. If the true Christ and our only Saviour did at once without us in and by his one crucified body on the Cross finish and perfect the work and office of a Saviour then a Quakers pretended Saviour within â—im is not the true Christ But the true Christ and one only Saviour did at once without us in and by his one crucified Body on the Cross finish and perfect the whole work and office of a Saviour Therefore a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true but the false Christ 4th Argument Because the true Christ and our only Saviour is in Heaven above us As in Luk. 24. 46 48 50 51. And Jesus said unto them his Apostles thus it was written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day And ye are witnesses of these things And led them out as far as Bethany And he lift up his hands and blessed them And it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven Mark 6. 19. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them he was received up into heaven and sate on the right hand of God Act. 1. 11. Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing into Heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Act. 3. 13 21. The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob the God of our Fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things Heb. 9. 24. For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Act 7 55 56. But he Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost looking up stedfastly into heaven and saw the Glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God And said Behold I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God From these Scriptures the fourth Argument was formed sc If the true Christ and our only Saviour be in Heaven above us then a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true Christ But the true Christ and our only Saviour is in Heaven above us Therefore a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true but the false Christ Lastly That by the
gave up the Ghost all these were truly and properly spoken of the true Christ who is the Light of the World Now what can be more absurd and â—alse then to affirm these things of the Light in every man that cometh into the World by natural Generation 3. It being an Enlightning which is communicated as in ver 9. to every man that comes into the World which comprehends both Elect and Reprobate But the true Christ is not in Reprobates 2 Cor 13. 5 Therefore the true Christ is not as in your sence in every man that comes into the World and consequently not in Teaching Seducing Quakers Text 2d 1 Tim 3. 16. Great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh Hence he F. E. inferr'd that the Godhead only as manifest in the flesh is the true Christ and only Saviour and withal he effectually said that the Light in every man that comes into the World as it is manifest in every man iâ— the same Christ sc the Godhead and as in the body of Christs flesh so in the body of every mans flesh i. e. God manifest in the flesh sc flesh indefinitely And so by a consequence of his own Blaspheming a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is the true not the false Christ Answ Nothing can be more evident then that this Disputant would have had the Hearers to believe that the Godhead as distinct from Christs being a man is the true Christ and only Saviour Surely this is new Divinity which is diffeâ—ing and quiâ—e another Gospel then that of the Apostles as in Mat. 16. 16. Thou not the Godhead aloâ—e in thee But thou the son of Man ver 13. art the Son of the living God Again after Christs Ascention and Glorification in Heaven above the Apostles confess him in hese words Act. 2. 36. Let al the house of Israel know assaredly that God hath made that same Iesus not the Godhead only manifest in Jesus but that same Iesus whom 〈◊〉 crucified both Lord and Christ consider I pray did the Iews ever crucifie your feigned Godhead-light within I could heartily wish that all ye would feelingly lay to heart what our blessed Lord saith in this case Luk. 12. 8 9. Whosoever shall confess me not the Godhead only in me but me before Men him shall the Son of Man also confess before the Angels of God But he that denieth me the Son of Man shall be denied before the Angels of God Thus the Holy Apostles confessed before men the Son of man Iesus of Nazareth to be the true Christ and their only Saviour and in the Faith thereof they both lived and died F. E. Let me ask thee this question sc If the Godhead of the Son considered as distinct from his being a Man be the true Christ and Saviour how or to whom was he manifested its impossible to imagine that the Godhead which is invisible and incomprehensible can be manifested to the external senses of men But the true Christ and our only Saviour was thus Manifested as it is witnessed by Christs faithful Apostles sc in 1 Ioh. chap. 1. ver 1. 2 3. there speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ personally God man they declare That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life Note here that the blessed Apostles testifie that they had heard and seen Jesus Christ the true and only Saviour looking upon him and handled him by being in his Company But as for your Idol light-Christ it was never visible but ever invisible for ye say it is within only so that call it what ye will you nor any man else can say what it is except a Whimsey Moreover lâ—t it be considered how these words God was manifested in the flesh are explained by the Lord Christ himself Joh. 2. 11 This beginning of Miracles did Iesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory that is his Godhead to Faith By this Miracle of turning water into wine the glory of the Godhead was manifested in the hoâ—y of his Flesh that is to say the Lord Christ did by that and other Miracles which he wrought in the sight of the Beholders make it manifest that he was true God and true man in one person which is so great a Mystery that neither Saints nor Angels are able to comprehend it this is indeed the genuine sense of that Scripture sc Great is the Mystery God was manifest in the flesh And to force it to speak otherwise is a most wretched and sinful wresting of the Text but the Disputant being as bold as blind added as aforesaid viz. That to Preach any other Gospel is to be accursed meaning to preach otherwise then that the Godhead only in the flesh all mankind flâ—sh to be the true Christ and only Saviour is to be accursed these words were being his third Text of Scripture repeated by him shall now be considered whether wrested or no. Tent 3d. Gal. 1. 8 9. If any Man Preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have Preached unto you and ye have received let him be accursed Ans I pray thee Frances what was the Name of that Apostle who preached the Godhead as distinct from Christs Manhood to be the true Christ and only Saviour oh thou poor filly man was there ever or will there ever be remission of sins Preached by the Spirit but by and through the one Man Jesus Christ the Apostle Paul Heb. 10. 29. saith in effect to Preach otherwise is to despite the Spirit of Grace even the Doctrine of the Spirit Rom. 5. 15. Much more the Grace of God and the gift by Grace which is by one Man Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many I shall let this pass a little and proceed to a consideration of the Text it self And for our so doing this Question doth necessarily arise Quest What was the Gospel that Paul Preached Answ He Preached the Faith i. e. the Gospel of Faith which once he destroyed and persecuted Gal. 1. 23. Now the Faith which Paul once persecuted was the Faith of believing in Jesus of Nazareth the man approved of God among the people Act. 2. 22. to be the true Christ and our only Saviour then by good consequence the Gospel which the Apostle Preached was to believe in the Name Jesus Christ of Nazareth to be the true Christ our only Saviour and Justifier in the sight of God without the works of Law in or by us To clear this Answer yet a little further let Pauls own Confession be observed Act. 22. 4. And I Persecuted this way namely of believing in Jesus of Nazareth to be the true Christ and only Saviour unto the Death binding anâ—d delivering into the Prisons both Men and Women ver 7. And I heard a voice saying unto me Saul Saul why persecutest thou me ver 8. And I answered who art thou Lord
gifts whether they are of God And how did the noble Elders at Berea try the Spirit by which Paul Preached The 11th verse tells us It was by their searching of the Scriptures daily whether these things were so it being an Article of Faith with them that the written Scriptures were the Churches standing Rule for Faith and Life and therefore ver 12. Many of them believed sc That Jesus of Nazareth was the true Christ and their only Saviour surely the Elders above trying the spirit by the search of the Scriptures doth sufficiently prove that the spirits are to be tried by the Scripture and not the Scripture by the spirit the end of Gods inspiring the Scripture was that it might thereby be enabled to try the spirit the spirit is so far from questioning or trying the Scripture that it ever witnesseth for or against as the Scripture witnesseth being indited by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1 21. for that end should the spirit of truth witness otherwise then according to the inspired Scripture that is to say if the spirit should witness one thing to be a truth in the Scripture and another thing contrary to it in a mans Conscience the spirit should be divided against it self it should be spirit of contradiction for instance the spirit witnesseth in the Scripture That the true Christ and our only Saviour was and is Jesus Christ of Nazareth a man approved of God who was taken by the Jews slain and hanged upon a Tree whom God raised from the dead the third day and exalted to be a Prince and Saviour Thus the spirit witnesseth in the Scriptures Act. 2. 22 23. Chap. 5. 30 31 34. But a Quaker pretends that the spirit witnesseth in his Conscience that there is a light within him which is the true Christ and only Saviour which is not the Man Jesus of Nazareth which the Jews never slew nor hanged upon a tree nor was ever raised by God from a bodily death Again The spirit witnesseth in the Scripture That he is a Righteous man who walketh in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord Luk. 1. 16. But a Quaker pretends that the spirit witnesseth in his Conscience that he is a righteous man who forsakes all the commanded Ordinances of the Lord. Now should we Christians be so weak and wicked as to believe a Quakers pretended spirit in him to be the spirit of God and not of the Devil should we not then be guilty of this dreadful Blasphemy namely of makiâ—g the spirit of God a spirit divided against it self a spirit of contradiction teaching lies in the Scripture by witnessing therein the things abâ—ve touching Jesus Christ and his Ordinances to be the truths and other things contrary to them for truths in a Quakers Conscience or as he calls it in his tender part this were to take strong damnable delusions for sacred and scriptural inspirations that inspiration which is either without the wriâ—ten word or against it is an hellish imposture indeed it s no marvel that the Teaching Quakers would have their spirit within that Idolized light to try the Scriptures not to be tried by them for if they mighâ— herein prevail and withal get into the sadâ—le they would undoubtedly soon Arraign Try and Condemn the inspired Bible of God to Fire and Faggot this conclusion may without breach of charity be grounded upon the scurrilous pens of some sâ—ducing Teaching Quakers whom Inâ—ight herein with their bold expressions have declared havâ—ng them by me but I feared the swelling of these confutations and the discouragement that might thereby be given to the Reader By the way I lay down this Caution to wiâ— though the holy and blessed spirit of God be above all tryal yet the â—are spirits even the spirits i. e. the spiritual gifts of all mâ—n which must be submitted to tryal whether they are of God i. e. of the Book of God 2 Cor. 34. 14. wherein there is not any speech or passage but the infinite wisdome of God hath thought fit to be recorded as that which hath in it somewhat for our instruction even the Blasphemy of the Fool which contradicts not only the truth but the very being of God which teacheth us this divine truth That there are seven that is all manner of Abominations in the heart of Man yea we may draw useful instructions from the words of Judas the Traitor after Satan had entred into him and filled his heart not only so but from the words of Satan in his temptations and proposals unto Christ much more may we from the sayings of Holy men which are all material truths from the inspiration of God and therefore fit to try the Spirits or gifts of all men as above which must be submitted to the tryal of the Scripture touch stone In the last place perhaps some Teaching Quakers may say sc We own the written Scripture as a witness-bearer or declarer of that light which is in Man Reply We deny the written Scripture to be a witness bearer to your Light within for if the Scriptures of God should bear witness to that gross piece of foolery call'd Light within it should witness it self to be no word of God For 1. Your Idol Light within saith that the Soul of a Man is part of God and no created substance This will be debated in the next Head 2. That the Light that is in every man by natural generation is the true Christ and only Saviour 3. That the Sacred Oracles of God the Scriptures of truth are not the standing Rule for Faith and Life but your unwritten Scriptures that whimsical Light within you 4. That this Light within will bring men to an absolute perfection a freedome from all sin in this life and to Heaven also 5. That the Lord Jesus Christ though God-man blessed for ever is not the Son of God the Saviour of the World 6. That the person of Christ is not in Heaven above that it is Blasphemy to affirm that he is there 7. That the Light within Man is the true Scripture and Word of God even the everlasting Word and therefore long before the written Scriptures To this last I will make some Reply Reply Let this be granted sc That the Light in Man was long before the written Scriptures yet the written Scriptures do declare a truth to us more ancient then the oldest Quaker or his Idol light within him namely what the Elâ—hims spake each to other saying Let us make Man in our own Image Gen 1. 26. And having made man it tells us what God said sc Be fruitful and multiply ver 28. And behold I have given you of every Tree bearing fruit ver 29. And God commanded the man saying of every Tree of the Garden c. Gen. 2. 16. Moreover the Scriptures tells us of divers things long before themselves were written to wit that after the Fall the Word of God was manifested to Adam and his wise and likewise that God
the dead for us and ascended up into heaven for us and before either which must be implied lived and died for us But he that believes not the Descention and the Ascention of the Lord Jesus Christ for him but seeketh Justification by the works of the Law he doth in effect deny the Resurrection and Ascention of Jesus Christ which to do were as much as in him lies to bring Christ down from above and likewise to bring him up again from the deep Now tell me Frances whither these verses sc the 6th and 7th so triumphingly repeated by thee do not plainly prove the true Christ and our only Saviour to be in heaven above us surely nothing can be more clearly proved and consequently by the Scriptures alledged by thee A Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true but the false Christ 2. As the righteousness of Faith is certain from the 6th and 7th Verses so it is possible from the 8th verse which comes now in like manner under consideration Ver. 8. But what saith It meaning the righteousness of Faith the Word is nigh thee even in they mouth and in thy heart that is the Word of Faith which we Preach Ver. 9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Answ Touching the 8th verse there are some Queries which require Solutions Qu. 1 What is meant by Righteousness of Faith Sol. 1. By Righteousness is meant that righteousness which obtains acceptance justification and salvation with God which is the righteousness alone of the Lord Jesus of Nazareth which he wrought out in his own personal-Obedience and Sufferings 1600 years since upon the Cross 2. By the Righteousness of Faith is meant a right believing in the alone righteousness of this Jesus of Nazareth for acceptance justification and salvation with God Qu. 2. What by the word Faith Sol. We are to understand an Evangelical not legal word for it is a word of Faith the same with the righteousness of Faith above defined and which agrees with the Apostles Explication ver 8. That is saith he the Word of Faith which we Preach now the Apostles Preached no other word of Faith then the righteousness of Faith afore expressed and confirmed by the four Arguments besides there are other Scriptures of infallible truth evidencing the same as Rom. 1. ver 1. Separate unto the Gospel of Christ ver 3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord ver 4. Declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead Likewise in Chap. 4. 25. Who was delivered i. e. to death for our offences and was raised up again for our Justification And in 1 Cor. 15. 1. I declare unto you the Gospel which I Preached unto you What was that Gospel the Apostle tells us ver 3. how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures ver 4. And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures the last mentioned Scriptures do illustrate the righteousness of Faith and word of Faith preached in the abovesaid verses 6. 8. and therefore cannot possibly be understood for a Quakers pretended Saviour within him as this Disputant F. E. would make us believe Qu. 3. How is this Preached Word or righteousness of Faith said to be night even in the mouth and in the heart Sol. It s resolved by the Apostle in ver 9 10. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved That is to say the Word of Faith preached is nigh in our mouths when we confess before men sc That we believe that that righteousness whereby we are accepted of God justified and saved is the only righteousness of Jesus Christ of Nazareth which he wrought out in his personal Obedience and sufferings upon the Cross without us for us And it is nigh in our hearts when this confession proceeds from a right perswasion ingrafted an planted in our hearts by the spirit of Faith as it s testified by Paul ver 10. For saith he with the heart man believeth unto righteousness i. e. unto the righteousness of Faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth ver 6. And with the mouth Confession sc of the same righteousness is made unto Salvation Thus according to the command of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Iohn 5. 39. I have as ye may see searched the Scriptures of God for the Solution here asserted but where do ye Teaching Quakers search son your Gospel word of Faith surely not in thâ— Scriptures of Truth without but at your Oracle that Idol-Light tender part within which ye falsly call the Everlasting Gospel and Eternal Word which as ye affirm was never made flesh contrary to Ioh. 1. ver 14. O thou Idol light within let me tell thee though many Antichrists have done villanously yet thou in villanies surmount them all For as Jerusalem once justified Sodom so thou Light within dost justifie the vilest Antichrists that are this day in the World for where doth that Teaching Quaker dwell what is his Name who doth in his heart believe and with his mouth confess that the righteousness whereby he is accepted of God justified in his sight and saved is the righteousness alone of Iesus Christ of Nazareth which he wrought out in his own and only personal obedience and sufferings in the World sixteen hundred years ago or that doth believe and confess that God of his free Grace and Mercy giveth Faith in this righteousness of Jesus Christ which is by his Father imputed or reckoned to Believers for their justification before God or do believe and confess that in this reckoning or imputation there is a reality undoubtedly there 's nothing more inconsistent with the Faith and Confession of Teaching Quakers then these most evident Gospel Principles of infallible Truth and therefore they are as I may safely avouch the greatest Antichrists of this age on Earth and ordained to the greatest condemnation Jude ver 3 4. I do now proceed to consider his fifth Scripture alledged to prove a Quakers pretended â—aviour within him to be the true not the false Christ Text 5. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Ans 1. By the way This Text of Scripture layes the Axe to the root of your new coined Religion and wounds it to death which may be thus argued If the light which is by natural Generation in Reprobates coming into the World be not the true Christ then the light that is in every man which comes into the World by natural Generation is not the true Christ But the light which is by natural Generation in Reprobates is not the true Christ as above Ergo the light that is in
pretended by thâ—e falls short of maintaining your cause as it respects the first part of the charge which â—id appear on a due examination of the Text it self in this man 〈◊〉 to wit Exam. By the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus we are to understand the Spirit which the Father gave him as the Son of Man without measure Ioh. 3. â—4 Ioh. 1. 6. Now from this fulness of Spiritual Life in Christ Paul received such a degree of it as made him free from the Law i. e. from the reign and demâ—nion of sin and from Death Rom. 6. 12. 14 i. e. from the power of natural death Note that the Spirit in the Text above is seâ—â—own two wayes 1. By the Subject in whom it is that is in the Manhood of Christs Person 2. By the Effect it is a spirit of life if this life be not from Christs fulness conveyed into us we are but dead men spiritually dead in sins Eph 2. 1. But when the spirit of 〈◊〉 from Christs unmeasurable fulness is derived to us tâ—en we feel its law or power weakening and abolishing the Law i. e. the strength and Authority of sin in us and thereby sin hath now no reigning domineering power in or over us nor can it condemn our persons and thus we are â—reed from the Law of sin death Note Not so â—reed as if we were simply delivered from both or either of these as that we cannot afterwards sin and die but the meaning is sin cannot rulâ— or exercise a command now over us nâ—r can it damn â—s nor can the natural death hurt us now tell me William whether there be ought in this third Text of Scripture alledged by thee that doth in the least though never so much strained prove this first part of the charge against you to be false for the mind of the Apostle therein is plain and evident viz. that the law of the Spirit of life inherent in us hath only a virtue to eat down the Law or commanding power of present sins and to destroy the power of our natural death what I pray thee is in all this to prove a Quakers pretended Saviour within him c. surely William either thou art very silly thy self or thou didst think thy hearers to be so After him steps F. E. again and said the Scripture saith of Christ I in thee and thou in me but he could not tell us where to find the Scripture that said those words of Christ Answ That I did not remember any such Scripture for manner and foâ—m as spoken by him to wit I in theâ— and thou in me but this Parret must prate as he hath been taught howbeit if it might be supposed not granted that Christ had said to any particular person I in thee and thou in me It must needs follow that the person of Christ wâ—s without not within him to whom he then spake and the person of Christ being the Believers only Saviour this allegation could not concern the charge before us T is true we read in Joh 17 23 I in them and thou in we that they may be made perfect in me i e. in oneness of affection for so it is interpreted in the last clause of the same verse sc and hast loved them as thou hast loved me also in Joh. 14. 20. and you in me and I in you these words do only signifie the reciprocal love that shall be fully experienced between Christ and his members at the glorious resurrection of the just as it is implied in the former part of that verse At that day namely of Christs second comming in glory ver 18. ye shall sc at that day know that I am in my Father i. e. in his love and you in me i. e. in my love and I in you i. e. in your love ver 21. Now Francis if thou dost mean either of these Scriptures thou wilt be still at a loss for it was the man Jesus Christ which spake to his Disciples and it is very strange that thou wilt produce a Christ for evidence in whom you do not believe it s a sign that thou art almost spent I do not remember that he made any reply to ought said by me as above but as a mask for their nakedness he urged another Scripture not naming where as to the chapter or verse to wit Christ saith of hâ—mself I am Alpha and Omega Rev 1. 1. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come The Almighty after the reciting of this Scripture I expected an Argument to be drawn from thence by the Disputant to prove the thing for whâ—ch he brought it But it seems Franks Seducers could never make him capable of formal Argumentations which defect constrained me to insist upon the explication herein more fully and distinctly enlarged of those Texts of Scripture which for the most part were only repeated by the titular Disputants and that many times after their own most presumptuous mode and manner adding or diminishing contrary to Gods command Deut. 4. 2. But I proceed to the Text it self Ans The place of Scripture above sc Rev. 1. 8. consists of three parts First part I am Alpha and Omega in these words Christs creating power is Metaphorically expressed being the first and last letters in the Greek Alphabet which by a figurative speech are applied to any beginning and end and are here interpreted by the next words namely the Beginning and the Ending which Phrases do signifie unto us Christs divine Nature eternal Power and Godhead as in Joh. 1. ver 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God sc God the Son and in Col. 1. 16. All things were created by him his dear Son ver 13. and for him sc for his glory as the ultimate end Rom. 11. 36. this therefore is the meaning of I am Alpha and Omega that is Christ is the efficient cause of all things and the end also whâ—ther all things are referred that he hath at first created all things and that for his own glory alone Second part Saith the Lord which words denote Christ the faithful promiser for all the promises of God are in him 2 Cor. 1 20. in him i. e. in the man hood of Christs person Col. 2 9. hereunto agrees the title Lord. which is mostly appropriated to Christs humaâ—e nature as before his Birth Luk. 1 43. And whence is this to me that the Mother of my Lord should come to me and on the day of his birth Chap 2. ver 11. For to you is born this day a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and afterwards Joh. 13. ver 13 14. Ye call me Master and Lord for so I am If I thou your Lord and Master have washed your feet Also after his resurrection Luk. 24. 34 saying The Lord hath risen indeed and hath oppeared to Simon ver 39. Behold my hands and my feet that
darkness which is most evident from a due consideration of the foregoing truths Oh how suitable is the Prophets Vision to a Quakers condition Obad. 1. ver 1 2. Behold I have made thee small thou art greatly despised the pride of thy heart hath deceived thee c. From the whole be ye advised 1. To cease from making your Idolized Thou and Thee the spring of your scurvy and surly deportment with their mask to wit that holy men in Scriptur recorded did oft use thou and thee one to another and to God himself Now what is your design herein can it be ought else then to put a cheat on the judgements of some ignorant creatures as thus Oh surely say they the Quakers do make Conscience of the Scripture for their warrant and authority thus poor ignorant ones are deluded by your equivocations though its most certain that the Scripture no here commands a Quaker to thou or thee any man much less Christian Rulers Governours and Magistrates yet thâ—se things the unmannerly Quakers will do But the Scripture doth command all men to pray for Rulers Governours and Magistrates to submit unto them and to give the honour which is due to them as Fathers of the Country 1 Tim 2. 1 2. 1 Pet. 2. 13. Isai 49. 23 yet these things they will not do so that in a word of truth the professâ—d perfection of a seemingly sanctified Quaker is a conscience of obeying his proud lusts and disobeying Gods inspired Laws 2. Cease from calling the reverential Presidenâ—s above the corruptions that are in the World through Lust for this is to make the fore expressed precepts of God and the Practises of his eminent Sainâ—s guilty of these corruptions but it s no new thing for a Quaker boldly to Blaspheme 3. Cease from wresting the Holy Scriptures especially that of Christ himself John 5. 44. How can ye believe which receive honour one of another The other part of the verse giving light to these words is usually omitted by them sc and seek not the honour that cometh from God only Quest What is that Honour which cometh from God only Answ The 23d verse tells us All men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him meaning to fulfill all righteousness Mat. 3. 15. It s then clear that the Son of God is the honour intended above if any ask who is this Son of God the good Angel tells us Luk. 1. 35. That holy thing which shall be born of thee Mary ver 34. shall be called the Son of God so then the Man Jesus Christ is the honour that cometh from God only which honour the Jews like the Quakers received not as this Son of God told them ver 43. I am come in my Fathers Name and ye receive me not sc by Faith hence Christ infers ver 44. above How can ye believe which receive Honour one of another and seek not the Honour which cometh from God only Now the Honour which the Pharisees received one of another was the Doctrine of Justification and Eternal Life by the works and righteousness of the Law fulfilled in and by the Son of God alone which righteousness of the Son is the justifying and saving honour that cometh from God only to right Believers will it hence follow because the proud Pharisees took divine honour to themselves and thereby received honour one of another therefore civil honour ought not to be given one to another let me tell you ye Quakers could not have brought a Scripture more full against your selves for under Heaven there are not a People to be found that receive more honour one of another then the men of your Sect do For ye affirm and boldly teach That he who made Heaven and Eearth Angels Principalities and Powers that hath a Name above every Name that is named King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Prince and only Saviour that gives repentance and remission of fins is in each of your vile bodies It s not to be wondred at that ye are so possessed with the infernal Spirit of superlative pride against Jesus of Nazareth the man approved of God and all true Believers on and lovers of him So much for some further satisfaction to William Bullock and his Light making manifest The next to him was F. E. He makes another motion on the behalf of his Cliant the false Christ and pretended Saviour within him to wit The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin The Text intended by him is in the 1 Joh. 1. 7. And the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son His Son he left out cleanseth us from all sin Answ Nor doth this Text of Scripture prove the thing for which it is brought For 1. Jesus Christ the Son of God in this 7th verse is that Word of Life which the Apostles ve 1 2. had heard and seen with their eyes and looked upon and with their hands had handled who could be no other than the Man Iesus Christ which to prove they bring in the operations of three of their five senses Now this Man Jesus Christ the Son of God as such he cannot be in a Quaker 2. By the Blood of this Son of God is meant the grievous sufferings pains and tortures which he endured on the Cross to the death and therefore called the blood of the Cross Col. 1. 20. as the Man Jesus Christ cannot be in a Quaker so consequently his bloody sufferings cannot be in a Quaker 3. That this blood of Christ cleanseth meaning all right Believers on it from all sin i. e. from all the pains and eternal sufferings due to the nature of sin for cleansing here is the same with washing in Rom. 1. 5 And from Iesus Christ the faithful Witness that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood i. e. in the sufferings of the Manhood of his pâ—rson for the former part of the verse concerns Christs Propetical Office and the latter part his Priestly Office which referred to Christs humane Nature and for that reason the cleansing or washing cannot be within but without us sc in Heaven Heb. 10. 19. Having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Iesus So then to be cleansed from all sin by Christs blood is to be acquitted and justified in the sight of God from all the deserved miseries of sin as Rom. 5. 8 9. But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him And the same Apostle tells us Col. 1. 21 22. Yet now hath be reconciled in the body of his flesh through death or through the death of his body of flesh Heb. 10. 20. To present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight not in our selves for Rom. 4. 5. He justifieth
the ungodly Abraham was justified in the righteousness of Christs person when he had some ungodliness in his own person a Believer is compleat in Christ bodily Col. 2. 8 9 10. when he hath some incompleatness in his own body In a word these things do clear this Truth Namely To be cleansed from all sin by the blood of Jesus Christ is to be understood for a cleansing from all the guilt and passive fruits and effects of sin but not for a cleansing as in your sense from all the movings and actings of sin in or by us while in this World which the following verses make most plain for even they which are by the blood of Jesus Christ cleansed from all sin ver 7 8. They have sin and in ver 9. ought to confess their sin Now Francis upon the whole it doth appear that the Patterns cut out by thee do still come short of the measure which plainly argues thou art not as yet thy Crafts-master yea this was manifested by thy Answer to this Question to wit Quest Whether the Saints was cleansed from all sin by the water of regeneration or by the blood of justification Thy Answer was by the Water which gave occasion to sundry persons to laugh at him But he endeavoured to compose them saying it is no laughing matter but indeed matter of melting pity that thy seduced Synagogue of Libertines should be led by so blind a Seducer The next after F. E. was William Bullock again alledging But a Body hast thou prepared me which he repeated again and again and then most earnestly called upon me tell me what is meant by Me for whom that body was prepared and what that body prepared was the same was as eagerly required by Francis Eastlack and William Harriot The place of Scripture intended by them was Heb. 10. 5. But a Body hast thou prepared me I Answered By Thou God the Father is meant by Me the Godhead of the Son by a Body prepared the Man hood united to the God-head of the Son And hereunto agrees the â—ormer part of the 5th verse Wherefore when he Christ God-man cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not or didst not desire and therefore were refused by God it being impossible that they should purge sin ver 4. For it is impossible that the blood of Bulls and of Goats should take away sin But a body hast thou prepared me meaning to receive and do his Fathers will in taking sin away Joh. 1. 20. Goâ— the Son having now taken and put on the body oâ— flesh prepared for â—im as above he now undertakes the great work of satisfying Goâ—s Justice for sin and so to take away sin saying ver 7. Lâ— I come to do thy Will O God And why he tells us In the volume of the Book it is written of me i. e. in the Record of thy Decree from everlasting is clear for it that I am he whom thou O Father hast instituted and ordained to do thy will for the taking away of sin For ver 10. By the which will we are sanctified or saved through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all So then the body offered in the 10th verse was the body prepared in the 5th verse But the body of Jesus Christ offered was a real man-kind body as the Spirit of Truth witnesseth Ver. 12. But this Man after he had offered one Sacrifice for sin for ever sat down on the right hand of God here hence it is manifest that the very offering of the body of Jesus Christ could not have saved us but by the will and ordination of the Father who prepared that body for Christs hanging and dying on the Crosse had not delivered us from the pains of the eternal death unless it had been written in the volume of the book It s most sure all that our Lord Christ did or suffered in his Soul and Body for us had not satisfied the justice of God for sin if God had not appointed that Christ his Son made of a Woman Gal. 4. 4. should be sent forth to come into the World to do and suffer those things for the satisfying his juctice to the taking away of sin upon the whole I did inter that the true Christ and our only Saviour must necessarily 〈◊〉 both without and above us Here I made some pause to invite a Reply but they were silent at which I much marvelled inasmuch as sundry of the â—â—â—ding Quakers had imprinted so many corrupt glosses on those words it may be 't was forgotten as the Preface notes But a body hast thou prepared me As thus The Body prepared say they was prepared in Heaven and broughâ— by Christ into the Virgins Womb which body they call a Mystical Invisible Spiritual Heavenly body of Flesh and Blood and withal that the Mystical Invisible Body still the Idol light Christ within is the â—rue and only Saviour whose Birth Death Resurrection and Glorification is only Mystical and Invisible Hence as I suppose it is that George Fox in his Folio Book intituled the Great Mystery page 71. asserts That Christs Nature is not humane which saith he is earthly the nature of the first Adam Answ I would gladly knâ—w of this Fox whether Humane doth not rather signifie a Man-kind nature consisting of Soul and Body It s true we read 1 Cor. 15. 47. compare Gen. 2. 7. the first Adam was of the earth earthly in regard of his body not his soul which God formed out of the Earth But the word humane comprehends both Soul and Body which is much more then Earthly or Earth Simply litteral-material Earth Again whereas he adds the second man is from Heaven To which I Answer The second Adam or Man is the Lord from heaven as above 1. Because Christs Man kind nature was conceived in Mary by the power of the Highest overshadowing her Luk. 1. 35. 2. The true Christ is stiled the Secona Man because the first Man was his figure Rom. 5. 14. likewise in the Geneologie Mat. 1. Christ is said also to be partaker of the same flesh blood that the children were partakers of Heb. 2. 14 but the flesh and blood which the Children were partakers of were real visible humane or man kind flesh and blood not Mystical Ivisible flesh and blood Besides this Title sc Th. Son of Man is frequently attributed to Jesus Christ in the New-Testament as in Mat. 8. 20. The Foxes have holes but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head also in Mat. 10. 23. 11. 19. 12. 8. c. The Lords Christ is called the Son of Man which is to shew the truth of his humane mankind Nature it being lineally descended from David according to the flesh and therefore Christ is stiled the Son of David Luk. 20. 41. Moreover he hath the appellation of the Son of Man in reference to his participation with our humane Nature in all
things which concern created-nature as it s stated by the Apostle in Heb. 2. 17. and in Chap. 4 15. In all things it behoved him Christ to be made like unto his Brethren and he was tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin surely he that is in all things like man except sin is rightly called the Son of Man for sin is not at all the Form but all the Deformity of Man The issue is that the Fox hath concealed his craft putting no difference between the terms sc Humune and Humane he knew full well that the Fox's craft would be soon discovered should he admit the Lords Christ to have a humane Nature or a body as is common to Man kind and therefore in Pag. 71. above he quarrels the word Humane and querieth where doth the Scripture speak of Humane where is it written quoth he that we may search for it Rep. Though we have not the Word yet having the Thing it might satisfie all with whom the light of Reason hath any credit Once more Christ the Second Man is said to be Lord from Heaven because he is to restore the heavenly life which was lost by the first man Adam who was also said to be Earthly by reason of Transgression and Christ is also said to be from Heaven by reason of Restoration By he first mans fall all mankind were deprived of all heavenly and spiritual graces By the second Man from Heaven the Elect of God have those Graces in some measure restored As Calvin in his Exposiâ—ion on the 47th ver above Paul doth not saith he speak of the substance of the second Mâ—ns body but of the habit of Graces and heavenly gifts of the Spirit of Christ And on the same verse he affirms that the Manichies were the first knaves which invented that Heresie Namely That Christ brought from Heaven an invisible body of flesh and blood into the Womb of the Virgin And undoubtedly the Quakers have drunk this Poison originally from them by whom the Devil according to Calvin first set it abroach which as it was so still it is a design from Hell to beget not only a denial but an utter blotting out of the very Name and remembrance as before of the true Jesus Christ and to set up a Spiritual Christ a Mystical Invisible Heavenly King Jesus and all this only to advance the Idol-light within and the more easily to deceive poor ignorant and unstable persons which hath been and still is their stragling Trade I have yet one thing more to mention concerning this Fox which is in his Book above Page 135. to wit That Thomas Mâ—or had said that Christ was absent from us while we are in this mortal body which said the Fox is contrary to the Apostle who saith The life of Jesus is Mark is manifested in their Mark their mortal flesh but he Fox like quotes not any place of Scripture the Text of Scripture abused by him is in 2 Cor. 5. 11. Eor we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might not is but be made manifest in not their but our mortal flesh Note the Fox saith The life of Jesus is manifested making it present but Paul saith that the life of Jesus might be made manifest making it future nay he hath not only believed the Letter but the Sense also of the Text which may appear partly by the former part of this 11th verse and partly by the subsequent verses in the former part of the verse thus For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake i. e. we have sc for the testimony of Jesus Death that is sufferings to death as in the subsequent verses 9 10. continually before our eyes that we might be prepared for the fellowship of the glorious resurrection when there will be a full manifestation made of the glorious life of Jesus in our mortal flesh this may yet further appear in ver 12. so then death worketh in us i. e. our daily sufferings from the cruel hands of unbelieving men for our Faith in and Testimony for Jesus and as it worketh in us so it sc the strokes which are deadly to our bodies works ver 17 for us And what work they the 17th verse Answereth For our light Affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory But how do they work it Answ Not by way of merit or earning our striving to blood cannot oblige God but by way of preparation to the resurrection in ver 14. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus Then that glorious life of Jesus shall be manifest in our mortal flesh the sum oâ— all is this to wit That the Lord sends afflictions yea death it self which to the Saints is the last and greatest affliction not only to cleanse their souls but to fashion and prepare their bodies as vessels to hold the exceeding weight of glory Now let any sober Saint judge wheâ—her Thomas Moor or George Fox hath contradicted the Apostle surely that Fox which endeavours as much as in him lies to choak the Lamb of God wâ—ll be ready to wrest the mind of the Apostle This Fox is seconded by Quaker Penington sc That the body prepared Heb. 10. 5. above was a Mystical Invisible body of flesh and blood for in his Book called Mysteries of the Kingdome he saith That the external blood of Christ cannot cleanse the Conscience for the blood of Bulls and Goats could not do it no more can his blood putting no more worth or vertue in the blood of Christ than in the blood of Beasts the consideration of this insufferable Blasphemy did so provoke the Spirit of Mr. Francis Duke a Man eminent for Meekness and Modesty that in his answer to one John Chandler a Teaching Quaker for the like expressions from him Page 67. he plainly tells this Chandler That he and his fellow-leading Friends are a Pack of such Villains as base as ever the Earth borâ— as for Penington he declares in his Book above That the heavenly body of flesh and blood which Christ brought with him from heaven meaning into the Virgin and dwelt in the Garment of his body a while and now is in every Saint sc Quaker Saints his mind herein is shortly this sc That a Mans wearing Garment is not his body so the visible material body of Jesus Christ which he calls the Garment of his body is not the Saviour Christ but as the natural body of a Man is within his Garment even so the true Christ was within the Garment of his external body whence it s most evident that this Seducing Teacher doth not confess with the Apostles That Iesus Christ of Nazareth the Man approved of God and by him exalted to be a Saviour is the true Christ Act. 5. 31. Let me add a little more of Peningtons Divinity