8 9. not here injoyed by way of actual possession by any of them But Jesus Christ in that which he hath done and is become for them with the Father as preached in the Gospel to every man being received by faith is even so in them and to them the hope of glory the ground and foundation of the hope of things not yet sensibly injoyed or possessed Col. 1. 27 28. with Rom. 8. 19. 24 25. Heb. 11. 1. yea in a sense the thing hoped for as in respect of his second personal appearance on the earth which shall be in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels Then and thereby do they look for an accomplishment of those glorious promises of the new heaven and new earth and the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven and of all things restored or made new by him Act. 3. 21 22. Rev. 21. 5. Phil. 3. 21. When he shall also bring all that sleep in Jesus with him 1 Thess 4. 14 16 2 Thess 2 1 2 with Chap. 1 6 7 c. â— Tim. 4. 8. Rev. 20. 4 6. 2 It farther appears that it is not yet come down from heaven in or to any persons because in it there is no death pain or mortality but in and amongst the best of beleevers here even while the Spirit is made alive for righteousness sake delivered from the condemnation and bondage of the Law by the body of Christ in the discovery of it even by the Law Doctrine and power of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and so quickned to a new and living hope and so also in desires and affections through the Resurrection of Christ as Rom. 7. 4. and 8. 2 3 4 1 Pet. 1. 3. 1 Joh. 3.3 yet the body is dead because of sin Rom. 8. 10. yea besides these mortalities there is infirmities and passions of the mind through remainders of the old man yet in their members warring though through Jesus Christ they get victory dayly Rom. 7. 23 24. yea in many things they all offend James 3. 2. 1 Joh. 1. 1. 8 10. And so there is with these mortalities yet upon them which are the fruit of sin and as a remembrance of it there is I say with them particular chastisements and corrections for sin of which they are made partakers as there is found in them sins against light and grace committed needing discovery and purgation 1 Cor. 11. 30 31 32 Heb. 12. 4 5-11 Their bodies are yet vile both their particular personal bodies and their societies also they are not yet made glorious without spot or wrinckle But he shall in that day when Jerusalem comes down from heaven so present them compare Phil. 3. 21. with Eph. 5. 26 27. He is therefore now all this day washing them that he may in the issue so present them with his likeness in the morning of the Resurrection as the issues and vertues of his sufferings Ps 17 ult Rev. 14. 1-5 and 7. 12-17 1 Joh. 3. 1-3 2 Qu. What and where that Sion is Isa 2. Mich. 4. c. Answ The former Answer may serve for Answer to this also Sion and Jerusalem being so neer a kin as they are in those Scriptures mentioned and in Heb. 12. 22. For though as in those Scriptures the Law Doctrine or word of the Lord do now come from thence to the Nations and they that with the heart beleeve or receive that word do by faith come unto it and are made of it in such beleeving yea do so come forth of its waters that its truly said Jerusalem that is above is the mother of them all yet it s still Jerusalem above even to them and not come down as is shewed before Gal. 4 26. Yea farther Though in this day we have a first fruits of the Spirit in performance of those promises yet the fulness and harvest of that and the redemption of the body and things pertaining more properly thereto we wholly wait for and are not yet possessors of the Nations are yet learning war whereas when those promises are accomplished They shall learn war no more neither is the enmity removed out of nor bondage of corruption taken off from the creatures as is promised then to be fully and clearly accomplished compare with those Scriptures Isa 11. Rom. 8. 19-25 Act. 3. 20 21. according to the ends and vertues of Christ having made peace by the blood of his Cross Col. 1. 20. Heb. 2. 5 8. 9. 3 Qu. What and where that Covenant is Jer. 31. 33 34. Heb. 8. 10 11 12 c. Ans 1. In respect of the foundation ground and assurance of it It is Jesus Christ himself as raised from the dead and exalted and glorified in our nature in hâ—s own personal body by and with the vertue of his sufferings the most glorious presence of God in the heavens compare Isa 55. 3 4. with Act. 13. 34. Heb. 4 14 and 8. 1 2-10 2 In respect of the matter of it or promises in it They also are all in him yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. given us through sealed in and the way for coming forth made by his bloud yea so given into him and into him inseparably That they may be given only with him in and through the knowledge of himself and so received by faith in the receiving him by faith and so it s a Covenant made and sure in him with all the seed viz those that come to God by him now I say now made with them in the giving him in the knowledge and faith of him in what he hath done and is become and in the ends and vertues thereof for a Covenant to the people and in some first fruits of the Spirit performed also Rom. 8. 32. 2 Pet. 1. 3 4. Isa 42. 6. and 55. 3 4. But 3 In respect of the performance of it in the harvest or fulness of those spiritual blessings we have in Christ and the redemption of the body c. by Christ it is yet to be waited for even all the time of this mortaliâ—y and till he come as before as may be seen in the Scriptures forecited and also in comparing Hab. 2. 2. 4. with Heb. 10. 35 36 37 38. In the beginning of which Chapter he also mentions the same Covenant as made and sure in Christ to all that come to God by him and to be so made with all the Israel of God yet with reference to it again in this latter end of the Chapter with allusion to that of Habbakkuck he signifies yet a time for the exercise of faith and patience in doing and suffering according to the will of God before the promises in their performance or accompâ—â—hment shall be received that vision of God in which they shall be revealed in the accomplishment being the second and glorious appearance of Jâ—â—â—s Christ in our nature which is yet to be waite for compare the 〈◊〉 Habbakkuck saith The Vision shall surely come
whether we may look for that word in these dayes Isa 30. 9 What that word of faith is by which none needs to say Who shall ascend up to heaven to fetch Christ from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead but that word is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart which the Apostle preached to them that had it in their heart And whether the same word be not now in the hearts of the people though they mind it not Rom. 10. 10 What that voyce of Christ is which his sheep knows and how they come to know it from other voyces and all that hear it will not hear the voyce of strangers and hirelings and theeves and sorcerers but by the same voyce are brought to know Christ and follow him Joh. 10. And whether his sheep may expect and wait for the same voyce now and to know it from all other voyces which are false 11 What that way is in the wilderness which Isaiah spake of Isa 35. 8. which shall be called the way of holiness which the unclean shall not pass over but it shall be for wayfaring men and fools shall not erre therein in which way the Redeemed shall walk and the Ransomed of the Lord shall come to Sion And whether any may expect to find in these dayes such a way as are strangers and fools in the world 12 What that manifestation of the Spirit is which is given to every man to profit with all and whether there be any profit but by it and whether it be not of it self â—n infallible guide in all the way of God according to its manifestation Joh. 4. 23. 13 What and where that worship of God is truly in which God alone looks to be worshipped in And whether any can worship in spirit and in truth but those that are born of the Spirit And whether that he that is born of the Spirit needeth any other guide in the spiritual worship but that Spirit of which he is born according to his measure Joh. 1. 9. And whether such worships hath not been and are now differing from all other worships in the world and therefore hated by them as in all Ages 14 What and where that light is that inlightens every man that comes into the world which being come into the world is the condemnation of all those that are in darkness because of their evil deeds And whether this be not the condemnation of all the world that beleeve not in it but walk in darkness And whether there be any other condemnation but it seeing Christ said If I had not come ye had not had sin Joh. 3. Rom. 8. 15 What the Law of the Spirit of life is which made Paul free from the law of sin and death which had warred against the law of his mind and had formerly held him in captivity to the law of sin that was in his members And whether any in these dayes that are come to that warfare may look for that freedome by the Law of the Spirit of life And thus I have written these few lines the Lord revealing by his Spirit in me the great delusion sorcery and bewitched doctrine that you are under of these bewitching Simon Magus sorcerers which have put you upon a Christ crucified without you notwithstanding you and the rest are in your filthiness and first nature Whereas the Holy Ghost hath declared That they must be pure in heart that must see God Matth. 5. 8. And hath neglected to tell you of a washing of regeneration and new birth by the Holy Ghost in you T it 3 4 5 6. And hath brought another Gospel contrary to what Christ hath already preached and therefore he rendreth such accursed 1 Pet. 1. 12. And the Lord speaking by the mouth of Paul saying My little children of whom I travel again in birth untill Christ be formed in you Gal. 4. 19. And the Lord in mercy look upon you for my bowels yern towards you and pity you to see Prophets and Teachers creep in among you to draw you from your guide 2 Pet. 2. 1. Written from the Spirit of the Lord from one whom the people of this world calls Quaker known by the name of Thomas Biddal The Answer to the fore-said Queries by Tho. Moore ANd first to the Inscription or Dedication of them which runs thus To Alice Morden and the rest which are not yet given up to Delusion To all who deny the teaching of God to be sufficient c. In which words that which is imported in the plainest sense of them is That they look upon this as a testimony sufficient that men are not given up to Delusion viz. That they deny the teaching of God to be sufficient to guide them that own it to God without humane helps or at least that those that do so are not given up This appears their sense if the indicter of this understood himself but that rather I suppose hee did not however to this Inscription and Dedication we shall lay down this for Answer That to deny the absolute and alone sufficiency of the teaching of God without humane helps or mans teaching is a sin of a very high nature and an evidence of being in a great measure given up to delusion Jer. 8. 8 9 and 6. 10 11. and 23. 16 18 22 c. Isa 8. 16-20 1 Tim. 6. 3 4 5. 1 Joh. 2. 19. 20-24-26 27. and Chap. 4 6. That therefore we may know who they are that do so that we may beware of them and of all steps leading to this evill Let us consider First What Gods eaching is Secondly Where and how himself doth preach or hold it forth unto men Thirdly How or wherein men may be said to deny the alone sufficiency thereof First What Gods teaching is as to the matter of it There is in it 1 Something summary and fundamental of all the rest by which primely it may be known and distinguished 2 Some things contained in springing out of and built upon or arising from those things that are main and fundamental in it 1 Those things main and fundamental in Gods teaching are concerning Jesus Christ before promised and witnessed and in his undertaking vertuous now manifested as delivered to death for our offences according to the Scriptures therein bearing our sins in his own body to the Tree not bearing them or leaving them to be born in that sense in our souls or bodies and raised again from the dead for our justification according to the Scriptures And so concerning his own the Fathers love and goodness to man-ward the glory of which is now manifested in the face of Christ even in those works done in and by his first personal Appearance and the acceptance and vertue of them with the Father for us and the end of them to bee fully revealed and accomplished in his second personal and glorious appearance according as declared to us in
Qu. What the Law of the Spirit of life is which made Paul free from the Law of Sin and Death which had warred against the law of his minde and had formerly held him in captivity to the Law of Sin that was in his members And whether any in these days that are come to that warfare may took for that freedom by the law of the Spirit of lifeâ— Ans Besides the confusion of two or three Queries in one here are some things taken for granted which we can by no means allow because the Text it self demes them viz. That by the Law of Sin and Death spoken of Rom. 8. 2. is meant the same with the law of sin in his members mentioned Chap. 7. 21 23. which did warre against the law of his mind and led him captive in some sence to it self and 2 That he was made free from that Law of Sin in his Members that it was not so much as warring against the law of his minde now both these I shall wholly deny and as they hang together so they will fall together in answer to one That by the Law of Sin and Death Chap. 8. 2. is not meant the same with the law of sin in his members Chap. 7. 21 23. appears in this That from the Law of Sin and Death mentioned Cha. 8. 2. he saith he was made free but of the other Chap. 7. 21 23 c. he affirms not that he had before but that he did now finde a law in his members warring against the law of his minde indeed before the Gospel of the Grace of God came or was received there was no discovery or disturbance of that-Law in his members and therefore no occasion for such a warre but since was the Combate and though it had been unthroned in his minde yet it was still warring in his members and he was not yet delivered from it though he could rejoyce in God in whom he had perfect deliverance and enjoyed it by faith and hope of perfect deliverance in himself by Christ when he should be delivered from the whole body of this Death yea by that Law of Sin and Death mentioned Rom. 8. 2. as appears by the next verses is meant that holy and righteous Law of God mentioned Rom. 7. 12-16 for so in the next verses of that Rom. 8. with reference to the same Law mentioned vers 2. he signifies the reason of its inability to give us life and peace was not any weakness or imperfection in itself but the weakness of our flesh and also propounds that as one great end of what Christ hath done that the righteousness of that Law might be fulfilled in them that beleeve c. And that Law is therefore called a Law of Sin and Death because it discovers Sin and sentences and concludes the Sinner under death yet itself is holy just and good Chap. 7. 10. whereas the other Law Chap. 7. 20 23. is sinful sin it self a body of sin this being understood the foundation of the Query falls yet this further Answer we shall give By that Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus by which he was made free from the condemnation and charges of this law of Sin and Death is meant nothing else but the Gospel of Christ which is that Old and New Commandement of the everlasting God the Law of Liberty Joh. 12. 47-50 1 Ioh. 2. 7 8. Iam. 1. 25. the Doctrin of the Spirit of Life that is in Christ Jesus or of that Spirit concerning the life Justification Peace and Redemption in Christ Jesus This appears plainly 1 By considering the next Verse in which he demonstrates how and with what Argument the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ freed him in which he propounds the main and fundamental Proposition and Argument of the Gospel in such cases and in all other for what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending forth his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh c. as 2 Cor. 5. 21. 2 It appears by comparing this with Rom. 1. 16 17. 1 Cor. 1. 18. c. where the Gospel of Christ even that preaching of the Cross as by them delivered is said to be the power of God to Salvation to the Beleever c. 3 It further appears by comparing this with 2 Cor. 3. where that Dispensation of the Gospel or Ministration given to the Apostles and by them to us is called the Ministration of Spirit of Life of Glory c. as opposed to the Ministration of the Law as given by Moses which as so opposed is called a killing Letter a Ministration of Death of Condemnation c. And this Gospel is still of the same quality it effectually worketh in them that beleeve in discovering and opening what Christ hath done for them in delivering them from the Curse of the Law in himself as in the publick person that in coming in to him by faith in him they might enjoy the benefit pacifying their Conscience and healing their Nature and so in the discovery of the Vertues and acceptance of what Christ hath done with the Father and is become according to the ends of his Cross This having the Arm of God in it as well as solid Arguments to that purpose it purgeth the Conscience from guilt of sin by the Law and from dead works to serve the living God and so quickens to new and livening hope and affections through the Resurrection of Jesus so as they have their Remission Peace as also Sanctification Preservation c. through his Name Acts 10 43. 13. 39. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Rom. 6. 17 18. Joh. 8. 31 32 36. 1 Cor. 6. 11. 1 Pet. 1. 5. Joh. 17. 11. To his Conclusion at the close of the Queries in which hee boasts of Gods revealing by his Spirit in him the great delusion others are in in being instructed to look to a Christ Crucified without them while they are in their filthiness and first nature c. as more at large may be seen in the Copy of his writing fore inserted To this I say we answer Surely the Lord doth not reveal any thing by his Spirit in or to any but so as therein he enableth them that receive his Revelation in some measure to make it known he to this purpose appeareth that he may make them witnesses of those things in which he appeareth How then shall we beleeve that God hath revealed to him the delusion others are in when he is not able in the least measure to make it out at least he hath not done it in these lines only endeavoured by a multitude of confused questions to finde it out as one not knowing and himself in all fore-written not laying down at all what in his apprehension is truth or what is error posiâ—ively but left that to be gathered in the manner of his Queries unless we may finde some discovery of
put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself had been manifested and accomplished in him yea that Death in which it is appointed to men once to dye was past in him Christs second appearing without sin to Salvation manifested and accomplished in him with much of that nature and that hee that could not witness that with him was Antichrist and did deny Christ come in the Flesh In Answer to which we oft-times offered and desired liberty to manifest and prove to the people That the one offering of Christ to bear our sins and to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself it was accomplished and finished in one Person not in many and once at one time or Age of the World nor at divers times and that the Second appearing of Christ is not yet accomplished in or to any person nor shall be in this day nor till to all together but we could get no liberty but were filled with Raylings Reproaches and Revilings from divâ—rs of them together in such manner as I never heard from any so we last them and what hath passed since with the sum of what was then asserted and maintained by us I have published in the following Discourse with some Queries I had from others of them and the Answers to them annexed for these Reasons 1 They did then as we have shewed here and in the following Discourse grosly slander us almost in all we said and would not suffer the people to hear what was said in answer to their slanders and have still persisted in managing them against us and the truth pleaded for by us where they come by word and writing as may also be fully seen in J. N. his Letter with my Answer to it in which Answer I have largely opened our Principles as to the things discoursed of that they that read may understand what they are and how falsly charged by them 2 As also that it may appear how they stand in direct opposition to and shew the vanity falseness and evil of the bottome principles of both Quakers and Ranters in which they are both one Which I have the rather done to vindicate the Doctrine of the grace of God in Christ that bringeth salvation to all men from those foul aspersions cast on it by some yea I have seen them in print in which it s charged with laying or administring foundation for those filthy and ungodly principles the falseness of which charge is manifest in the following Discourse yea it appears that which is in express terms fought against and reproached by them is the asserting the great benefits prepared for men in Christ and redounding to them by Christ while yet lying in their wickedness and thence directing them to look to a Christ crucified for them while they were yet sinners and in their filthiness The truth is They acknowledge not the grace of God in the Death and Resurrection of Christ as accomplished in that his own body â—â— being the foundation of or bringing salvation to men all or any but would lay another foundation or overthrow that though they can do neither by directing men to look into themselves and to what is witnessed or wrought in them for all their consolation rejoycing direction c. yea it s their counsel to all men I have often heard it and seen it in many of their Papers even to such as they then judged to be yet wallowing in their filthiness turned out from the presence of God murdering the just one in them â—igh to cursing c. yet to turn the eye inward to look and take diligent heed to the light in them to the book of their conscience c. and that in opposition to and to take them off from looking unto Jesus and the works wrought in his body for them without them and to such looking or attention to him in and through the testimony â—â—â— hath given by the one mouth of his holy Apostles and Prâ—phâ—ts and left on record for us They in their foolish and vain imaginations while professing to be wise being so besotted as to imagine that one person of the Son of God in the nature of man and the works done in his own body and the manifestation of God in him and therein testified to be but some farther types and figures of the true light the very Christ and that to be something naturally in every man naturally I say for so it must be if affirmed to be in every man while yet none of them have received nor are they ever directed by them to look to or for any supernatural grace whether they talk of first or second nature yet both are natural to the man and naturally in him and of him according to their principles only the best or second nature which they direct to look to that in the witness and operation of it as in them they may have righteousness strength and direction is something dis-appearing they say through the fall yet not much dis-appearing it seems when if they do but turn the eye inward they shall presently see and meet with it as the first mover and teacher appearing and yet such a thing too as no man hath benefit by till he can witness it in him they are indeed foolish and inconsistent apprehensions as well as most Antichristian and ungodly but their folly and evil is not so manifested and detected by any other spirit or doctrine as by the testimony of Jesus as the Son of God the Saviour of the world and that doctrine of the grace of God in him bringing salvation to all men when rightly held according to the Scriptures Tit. 2. 11 12. For as that holds forth that very Jesus the only immediately begotten Son of God that was before us all even from everlasting with the Father by whom and for whom all things were made which in the fulness of times was sent forth made of a woman made under the Law for us in that one body c. and therein delivered to death raised and exalted according to the Scriptures to beindeed the very Christ The Savior of the world the true light that lightens every man that comes into the world that with his vertues and influences fills all things for the good and salvation of mankind and so instructs and directs al the ends of the earth to look to him and the grace of God in by through him bringing salvation to all men and be saved so it therein in the same light of the Lord cryes concerning them All flesh is grass surely the people is grass Isa 40. 6 7. Men are altogether strangers to that wisdome and strength by which they might be reconciled to God the way of peace they know not yea thaâ— wisdome is not to be found in the land of beliâ—ing Rom. 3. 10 11-19 Job 28. 12 13 c. They are without God in the world and strangers to the life of God Eph. 4. 18. and 2. 1â— They are dead in sins and
to death for our offences and raised again for our justification In him as so considered God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angels preached to the Gentiles beleeved on in the world and received up into glory And that this Scripture speaks of these great things of the mystery of godliness as done onely in that one person I propounded this consideration for one That the word that is immediately prefixed and especially applicable to the first clause is in the Preterperfectense or in the time past God was not God is he was manifest in the flesh yea the phrase of the last clause renders that as a thing also done and finished in the person spoken of He is received up into glory And surely In that person and in him only this is absolutely true God is in the nature of man even in the flesh in which he descended received up into glory not now receiving or to be received but now already received up into glory set down on the right hand of Majesty on the Throne of glory in the heavens Consider I pray you how suitable to this understanding of the last and first clauses is that which is affirmed of this person Heb. 9. 24 25 26. Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true But into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us nor yet that he should offer himself often as the former high Priests entred into the holy place every year with blood of others hee needeth not daily to offer up sacrifice for this he did once Heb. 7. 27 for then also must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world but now once in the last Ages of the world he hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself even as it s appointed unto men once to dye so Christ was once offered not in many Ages or divers times but once in the last Ages when men were multiplied into many whereas they were but one when the ordinance of death passed on them yet in that one it passed on the whole kind so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many even of all of that kind all men every of the nature he took then when they and their offences were multiplied into many he saith not to bear sins in many for then indeed he must often have suffered But now once he was offered in his own body even that so and then prepared him Chap. 10. 5-10 to bear the sins of many Then was God in Christ condemning sin in the flesh yea then and therein when one dyed not in but for all and rose again Then was God in Christ reconciling the world not imputing their trespasses to them but causing them to meet together on him 2 Cor. 5. 14. 15 19. with Isa 53. 6. Rom. 8. 3. 1 Pet. 2. 24. And raising him and giving him glory as the publick man that by and through him our faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 3. 18. and 1. 21. with these and that 1 Tim. 3. 16. compare that Joh. 13. 31 32. See how our Savior there directs us to the person in whom the time and works in which God was so manifested and glorified in the flesh and did straightway after the finishing of these works glorifie it in that person even then faith our Savior when Judas was gone out to betray him when he was presently to finish those works the Father gave him to do on earth yea his soul was already in trouble Joh. 12. 27. now saith he even in that his being made an offering for sin is the Son of Man glorified and the Father is glorified in him If God be glorified in him God shall also glorifie him in himself and shall straightway glorifie him Then and therein was the Son of man glorified in his being appointed and set as the surety in that publick place that by the grace of God he should tast death for every man he was therein said to be crowned with glory and honor above all other persons among Men or Angels for no man could redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransom for his soul the Redemption of the soul is more precious neither was there any other thing or person in Heaven or Earth that was counted worthy but this Holy One Herein was the Son of man glorified And so in Gods supporting him and carrying him through so great sufferings when all our sins met together on him Psal 40. 11 12 16 17. Heb. 5. 7 9. Likewise in Gods giving so glorious a testimony to him at his death Mat. 26. 50 54. And in his Resurrection from the dead This Jesus who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness Rom. 1. 3 4. In these things the Son of man was glorified and â—o the Father glorified in him in the exercise and agreement of all his holy and glorious Attributes his Wisdom Holiness Truth Mercy Goodness Power c. for manssalvation God was manifested in the flesh condemning sin and yet therein preparing Attonement and Propitiation for sinners and straight-way after the finishing of these works in his own body the father who glorified him in himself in his own Power Name and Glory declaring himself satisfied in and for what he delivered him raising him from the dead in which he was justified in the Spirit or according to the Spirit of Holiness did further and fully and perfectly glorifie him in the same body in receiving him up to glory and setting him on his own right hand in the Heavens far above all Principality and Power Might and Dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but in that to come and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him then distinct from him in his personal body now raised and glorified yet they in that to be done in and upon them are the filling up or compleating of him in the ends and vertues of his cross who as so considered namely in the ends and vertues of his cross filleth all things as Ephes 3. 8 10 but he gave himself for hâ—s Church for all that through his grace to man-ward come in to him That he might wash them with the washing of water by the word that so he might in the issue present it to himself as he now presents it in himself before the Father a glorious Church without spot or wrinckle Eph 5. 25-27 and ch 1. 20 21 22 23. 1 Pot. 3. 22. Phil. 2. 6-11 Joh. 17. 1-5 Col. 2. 9. Read these Scriptures and compare them and see how they explicate and agree with the explication given of that 1 Tim. 3. 16. And after some little Discourse to this purpose demonstrating
that Scripture to speak of the manifestation of God in that one person and not in divers in and through whom onely the Fathers goodness and glory is preached and the preaching of it in the Gospel now fully made known from the Jews to the Gentiles in and through whom truly and onely the Father is beleeved on in the world John 12. 44 45 46. Rom. 1. 16 17 19. and 2. 4. with Act. 4. 10 11 12. and 17. 24-31 I say after this I added that indeed it could not properly be said That in a ful or absolute sense God was or is manifested in the flesh of any natural Son of Adam in the time of this mortality nor so as he was in that person who was not naturally of us but made so by a work of new creation and now through sufferings for us entered into his glory to this purpose were my words to which also I then added as follows or to this purpose contrary to what thou hast falsely charged me with That it is true God hath said he well dwel and walk in his people that through grace beleeve in him according to the testimony given of his Son but that the spirit of the beleever primely and chiefly is the subject of his indwelling or habitation which is said to be made alive for righterusness sake while yet the body is dead because of sin and to serve the Law of God while yet the flesh is much inslaved by the law of sin remaining and warring in the members and the body of death remaining on them even in the best of beleevers while here in those in whom Christ dwels in his Spirit and by faith Rom. 8. 10. and 7. 23. 25. whence the Apostle saith he knows that in him that is in his flesh dwels no good thing Rom. 7. 18. yet the fountain of all goodness being received into the mind spirit oâ— inner man by faith as Ephes 3. 16 17. that also springs up and acts forth through the mortal body moving and strengthening it to all its service and suffering whence also the body is said to be the Temple of the Lord it being the Tabernacle of that mind spirit or inner-man in which God primely and chiefly dwelleth and manifesteth himself in and through the testimony of Jesus there received 2 Cor. 5. 1-5 8 14 15. and chap. 4. 6 7. as well as also more generally because that also is bought with a price to be his as in that 1 Cor. 6. â—0 yea the bodies of beleevers are so the Temples of the Lord as not onely bought with a price but taken possession of owned and accepted in his Son with whom they are united by faith That God will also manifest himself fully and gloriously in those bodies when he that raised up the Lord shall also raise us up by his own power a in that 1 Cor. 6. 14. Then shall he change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body by that mighty working by which he is able to subdue even all things to himself Surely James hadst thou any fear of God before thy eyes thou wouldst be ashamed of thy gross ignorance that can see no difference or distinction between the body being the Temple of the Lord and so being also holy as being redeemed called accepted devoted to be his and for him And the Lord being fully and glorioufly manifested in his holy Temple Hast thou not read indeed I fear thou dost give very little attendance to reading the Scriptures because I find in thy discourse and papers they are slighted as a dead letter and most of them as quoted by thee have a false reading put upon them But I say hast thou never read that then was the time once in the last ages of the world when Christ appeared in that body then and so prepared for him as before and was once offered to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself even then was the Son of man glorified and God was glorified in him and he did then straightway glorifie him carrying him through sufferings into glory in a full and absolute sence as in the Scriptures fore-mentioned But that the day of the manifestation of all the residue of the Sons of God of mankind even the day of the redemption of their bodies when the glory of God shal be revealed in the Saints fully and so he glorified and admired in all them that now through grace beleeve because the Apostles testimony was received by them in that day that this is yet to be waited for til the end of this world in this corruptible state of it till the Lord himself personally come again and in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels and bring all those that sleep in Jesus with him and so till they shall all be gathered together unto him to the injoyment of it till that day in which their enemies shall be all troden down aâ—mire in the streets who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints c. Then shall the righteous shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father when all the tares are plucked up and cast into the fire which cannot be done by any of the servants in the world that now is nor shall be done by the Angels till the end of it and while they remain among them they as well as this body of death upon them do hinder the glorious manifestation of the Sons of God Surely then even we saith the Apostle as well as our expectation of the whole Creation to be then restored or renewed we also that have the first fruits of the Spirit do wait or tarry for the adoption that is the redemption of our bodies and so for the manifestation of the Sons of God If thou hast not read this or hast forgotten having too much I fear suffered the knowledge faith and hope of it to slip out of thy heart Or however I pray thee for thy own good if it may be read consider and compare these Scriptures comparing them with that fore-cited concerning that manifestation of God in the flesh in the person of Christ Joh. 13. 31 32. Rom. 8 18 19 23-25 with 2 Thes 1 5 6 7-9 10. and ch â— 1 2. Mat. 13. 28 29 30. with ver 37-40 42 43. Psa 37. 6 7. Mal. 4. 1-3 1 Thes 4. 14-16 17. Tit. 2. 12 13. 2 Tim 48. Again dost thou not remember that when at first thou didst charge me with denying God to be manifest in the flesh of the Saints which were the expressions of thy charge on its first appearance though much altered and higher after in thy paper and since in thy Letter that then I denied thy Châ—rge and told the people over again what I said suitable to what I have now and before written as much as I could gâ—t liberty and what
in it in the sense spoken of while yet it is mortal than that equivalent Scripture Rom. 8. 11. doth signifie That the body shall be mortal when raised or that the resurrection shall be made in any in the time of this mortality where he saith He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal body by that spirit that now dwelt in them But that he speaks there of such a quickening or raising from the dead as in which their mortal bodies shall be made immortal is plain in that he compares it with the raising Christ from the dead having also affirmed before that now the body is dead because of sin while yet the spirit is made alive for righteousness sake And to that death that is now or still upon the body even after we have the first fruits of the Spirit he opposeth that quickening of the mortal body spoken of all which plainly shews that he speaks there of the blessed and first Resurrection which more properly than the other is called a quickening because it is a resurrection to life of which they in their bodies that sleep in Jâ—sus shall all be made partakers together at his Second Appearing speaking of that he saith He shall quicken your mortal bodies yet this mortal shall then and therein put on immortalâ—ty 2 This further Answer That if it should be granted you that the life of Jesus might be in some sense truly said to be manifested in the mortal flesh now while mortall yet it makes nothing against what was said about Gods being manifest in the flesh for this we had then at first laid down That the Spirit of life in Jesus being received into and dwelling in the mind or spirit of the beleever in that word or testimony of Christ received and abiding there doth also shew forth it self and act in and through the mortal body moving and strengthening it to such service and suffering as the renewing of the mind leads to Yet all this saith not That properly and in a full and absolute sense God is manifested or glorified in the flesh of his Saints in the time of this mortality much less that he is so manifested either in such manner or in or to the accomplishing of such works as he was manifested in the flesh in that one person that now in mans nature is received up into Glory which were the things denyed Secondly To your Charge in its last form with reference to those two Scriptures Col. 1. 27. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Truly I do not remember that those two Scriptures were at all mentioned in any Discourse by way of conference that was between us at least not so mentioned as you might have any answer to what you would have made them say I remember indeed Rich. Farnsworth in continued speech abused them But there was nothing said to him untill he had finished his large witness concerning himself after which the time being shore there was but little said by mee though more than could all bear without storming that we did not rather fall down and worship him and admire his words as some of your company did as the words of the eternal God and not of a man more highly blasphemous than that Act. 12. 22. but that which was said was not with reference to his abuse of those Scriptures but to his abuse of those two other Scriptures Ro. 7. 23. and 8. 10. which occasionally falling upon we shall briefly mention Hee witnessed that he was delivered from the Law of sin in his members that it was not remaining or warring there and from that body of death there mentioned with allusion to those expressions as signifying that Paul witnessed the like concerning himself whereas Paul complains of both as yet accumbring him speaking in the present time not in the time past I find then a law in my members warring Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death He was not yet delivered but wretched by reason of it remaining Though yet hee could thank God through Jesus in whom he had perfect deliverance which he injoyed by faith and therein also freedome from under the condemnation of that holy Law of God which discovers sin and sentenceth the sinner to death and daily victory in the combate over the dominion of sin and fear or horror of death yet still it remained and warred in him and so in all beleevers while here as to that purpose was then told the people Again he witnessed largely of his body being wholly mortified and dead to sin as the fruit of Christ being in him and therein and so God manifested in his flesh And this he said also with allusion to those expressions Rom. 8 10. If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin c. which expressions he changed thus The body is dead unto sin To that also I told the people that the bodies being dead unto sin as it was not therein the expressions so neither could it there be meant because he saith The body is dead because of sin now its being crucified or dead unto sin is no part of the fruit of sin nor happens it to any because of sin but because of and as the fruit and vertue of Christs righteousness where in any sense or measure it s truly found But that here spoken of is something of misery still remaining on the beleever because of or as the fruit of sin though Christ be in them and so the spirit alive for righteousness sake yet the body is dead because of sin yea it is yet in it self a wretched vile body as Rom. 7. 23. Phil. 3. 21. though redeemed and taken to be the Lords yet not in it self while here wholly subdued to him nor conformed or made like to his glorious body untill the Resurrection and then it shall certainly so be we wait for the Adoption That is the redemption of the body You did indeed discover your selves in these and the like passages to be of no judgement concerning the faith and of the same spirit with those 2 Tim. 2. 18. that say The Resurrection is already made or past in them and so overthrow the faith of some that did not cleave so close to the foundation of God in giving earnest heed to the things they had heard in the Doctrine of the Death and Resurrection of Christ which foundation yet standeth sure against all your Batteries having this seal for its confirmation The Lord knoweth them that are his hee owneth approveth standeth by to the saving preserving and strengthning in all service and suffering all them that having received the Spirit in that hearing of faith do keep that in beleeving remembrance and abide in it as the fundamental doctrine they therin abide in unior and fellowship with and protection of the Son and so of the Father in him 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Joh 2. 24 25 26 27. 2 Joh. 7. -9. Joh. 10. 27-29 and
the witness of that person and those works as perfect in him is actually received in the receit of the testimony God hath given of him It is a good description of the doer of truth he commeth to the light that he may see all his works that he desires to own as the ground and matter of his rejoycing and hope wrought in God in Emmanuel And so the other place saith the thing was true in them that was true in him not because it was actually wrought in them as in him but expresly because the darkness was past to them and the true light had then shined which disovers him as that onely begotten Son of God full of grace and truth Joh 1. 14. and so learns all truth as it is in Jesus Ephes 4. 21. yea leads into all truth and so gives proof and experiment of the goodness vertue and efficacy or power of the truth in the receit of it through such lifting up or demonstration of the Son of man and so of the truth as it is in him Joh. 16. 13 14. 2 The Jesus or Christ to whom thoubearest witnesse is such as whose second appearing without sin to the salvation of those that look for him with reference to those expressions Heb. 9. 28. is already past or hath been accomplised in thee This is clear in thy letter though there the word second bee left out which was oft urged by thee in discourse That Christ is come again in the flesh since his Ascension which also thou callest thy confessing the flesh of Christ and further signifies in following expressions This to bee thy confession of the flesh of Christ in thee or his comming in the flesh The second time even since hâ—s Ascension in thee And didst call in discourse his appearing again and the second time in thee in his body his flesh and spirit Christ holy harmelesse undefiled separate from sinners made higher than the heavens with many other such like expressions which some took in writing least thou shouldest deny them though not as any matter of Accusation against thee to thy harm as thou slanderest them which writing I not having by mee mention no more than I well remember And is the summe of it in thy Letter Whereas that Jesus the Christ which they have preached is personally received by and continuing with the Father in the heavens untill the time of the Restruction of all things Act. 3. 20 21. from whom all beleevers are personally absent while in these mortal bodies 2 Cor. 5. 6. His second and glorious Appearance in that body in which he once suffered for sin without sin to the salvation of those that look for him with all the blessed hope then â—o be revealed the fulness and Harvest of the Spirit and glorious Redemption of the body is yet to be waited for by all beleevers not accomplished in or to any of them all the time of this present world whence â—he Apostle propounds it as the posture in which the beleever stands all the time of this present world in which he hath ungodliness and worldly lust to encounter with looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearance of the great God and our Savior Tit. 2. 12 13. with 2 Pet. 3. 3. 11. 12. 1 Thess 1 9 10. Phil. 3 20 21. And so that salvation of them that look for him Heb. 9. 28. to the accomplishing of which he shall appear the second time and then without sin in any such imputation of it infirmities or sufferings by occasion of it as was upon him in his first Appearance even in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels That salvation of them I say is clearly that total salvation that shall be revealed and accomplished in the last time 1 Pet. 1. 5. even after the natural death and in the Resurrection in which they shall be redeemed from the power of the grave in the first Resurrection and so from the hand of the enemy that the second death shall have no power on them but they shall be ever with the Lord posseâ—â—ing the glorious rest and Kingdom for ever which appears in that its a position so placed as answering to the judgement after death mentioned in the former verse Heb. 9. 27 28. In that judgement after death unto which all in these bodies must come Then and therein shall he appear without sin to the salvation of them that look for him so that they shall stand in the judgement having righteousness and strength in the Lord yea in the Lord shall they be justified and redeemed from all their iniquities fully and perfectly and shall glory Isa 45. 24 25. Psa 130. 8. Yea when that Second Appearing of Christ shall be accomplished it shall not then be made or accomplished in an internal operation in this or that or many persons that we should need to look here or there for him but that one person shall appear personally in that his own body in our nature as now glorified with the Father even as he was seen go into Heaven so his second coming shall be visible to all as the lightning from the one end of the Heaven to the other and accomplished to them all at once and together 1 Thess 4. 14-16 Matth. 24. 26 27 28. To corrupt us from the beleef of the truth and expectation of which blessed hope and to intâ—oduce thy other Jesus whom thou didst witness to have appeared the second time in thee even to have come again in the flesh since his Ascension c. as before thou didst pervert these Scriptures that I well remember Luk 17. 20 21 Joh. 14. 3. The first of which thou mentionest now again in thy letter with a great deal of vaunting and reproach as if it spoke so much and so plainly to what thou hadst affirmed as to render it greatest folly shame and blindness to oppose such thy witness of thy self Let us therefore again a little look upon it and see if thou hast not grosly abused our Savior in perverting his words contrary to the plain intent and scope of them See if our Saviour do not in that place clearly signifie That his second coming in that body and therein the glorious revelation and bringing down of the Kingdom and glory is yet to be waited for even by his Disciples all the time of this mortality They themselves should desire to see one of his dayes and should not see it namely in this time and state of their mortality nor till they all come together with all that are his Let the whole Chapter be viewed from the twentieth verse to the lâ—st When he was demanded of the Pharisees When the Kingdom of God should come He answered The Kingdom of God commeth not with observation or outward shew of pomp or glory of this world of which his Kingdom is not as they expected Joh. 18. 36. neither shall they say loe here or loe there for beâ—old the Kingdom of God is