mouth and that they had a more infallible Word to walk by than is now to us for it 's possible that some Scriptures may be corrupteâ— having been in the hands of corrupted men c. Thus far thou J. N. hast confuted thy self and manifestly broke the neck of thy own Cause First in that thou hast confessed to a more infallible Rule or Word than the Scriptures so that the Scriptures are not the only Rule nor yet the ground of Faith Assurance as often thou hast falsly misrepresented them 2dly In that the Scriptures might be corrupted they are not inseparably one with the Spirit in Nature and Purity 3dly Thou having granted That the Directions or Word thâ— Ancients had from God's own mouth was impossible that should be corrupted p. 106. From whence it follows That the immediate Word and Directions of God are the only infallible Rule in all such as receive them and not the Scriptures which might be corrupted as is confessed But whereas thou sayest The New Testament Letter that now is is to be our Rule p. 103. And often sayest The Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith for all men to walk by unto the end of tâ—â— World and none other c. Herein thou hast set the Letter or Writing above the Spirit and its immediate Directions from God contrary to what thou hast acknowledged as if thou wouldest now place all Rule upon the Letter and leave no room for that which thou hast confest to be more infallible and thus thou art found shuffling saying and unsaying reeling to and fro like a man drunk in Confusion For though many times wherein thou hast granted to truth contrary to thy own corrupt Principle thou dost not keep to it but turnest round again to thy own Confusion which in the tenour of it runneth thus viz. The Letter is the only Rule for all men to the Worlds â—nd nay the Rule of the Spirit or immediate Word which the Ancients had before the Scriptures were written was a more infallible Rule than the Scriptures for they might be corrupted But to go round again They cannot be separated in their Nature and Purity c. Is it not easie to see here what a labyrinth of Confussion and self-Contradictions thou art run into who hast presumed to confute others though to thy own final Confutation And seeing thou pretendest to pray for and own the Spirit of Truth in its help or work as thou sayest in the Word Doest thoâ— mean that the Spirit is in the Scriptures not distinct from them Or That it cannot be separated from the Letter according to thy words before What then Doest thou think that the Spirit is essential in the Writing and so that all that have the Scriptures must needs have the Spirit as it follows from thy own words whereas there 's a multitude of Examples to the contrary even in this Age and Nation of both many Hypocrites and empty Professors and others who are not led by the true Spirit and yet have the Scriptures As also thou thy self who professest the Scripture to be thy only Rule yet art found in Confusion and Error which God is not the Author of not yet his Spirit and what Scripture hast thou that sayeth these words viz. The New-Testament Letter is to be our Rule Produce plain Scripture for these words and it shall end the Controversie or otherwise be ashamed of professing the Scriptures thy only Rule when thou wilt not be ruled by them but presume to assert what thou canst not prove therein And yet for all thy high Assertions and Titles put upon the Scriptures thou hast confessed That another Foundation can no man lay than that which is already laid which is Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 3.11 But hast not thou often essayed to have laid another Foundation for Faith and Assurance even the Scriptures or the Letter yet knowest not but that they may be corrupted what an implicite Faith wouldst thou beget all People into of that which thou canst give no infallible demonstration of If thou shouldest thus preach to the Jews Turks or Infidels and tell them the Scripâ—ures or Letter of the New Testament must be their only Rule for Salvation as thou sayest it must be for all men to the Worlds end and then shouldst tell them that corrupt men for ought thou knowest have corrupted the Scriptures What Conviction thinkest thou would this work upon them and how would it answer either that Light or Reason that is in them and whilest thou seemest not to own the immediate teaching of God or his Spirit now for the Rule but the New Testament Letter or Scriptures only How camest thou by thy Faith concerning them And if thou meanest That the Doctrines contained in the New Testament are the Rule and not the Letter abstractively then how shall a man know these Dostrines and which do particularly relate to his state and condition seeing there are diversities of states written to Do not many misapply them whilest they place the Rule only in the literal Prescriptions and do not begin in the Spirit which gave forth the wholsome Doctrines in Scripture which Spirit is still sufficient to lead into all Truth and doth immediately teach the same wholesome Doctrines and now though every wholesome Direction or Doctrine prescribed may admit of the term A Rule as it is rightly received which thing I granting I thereby do no more grant the Scriptures to be the only Rule than that they are the only Word because I grant that words of God are recorded in them For to say the Scripture-Letter or Writing is the only Rule of Faith for all is a gross mistake and excludes the immediate Teachings Rule and Law of the Spirit which every spiritual mind is led by and supposes no true Faith but what the Letter or Writing is the Ground or Rule of whereas it can be but an historical traditional and implicite faith that is meerly founded upon Tradition and Letter and not Spirit or thâ—t that is without the divine and immediate Illumination of the Sâ—irit without which is no Divine Faith but mens Knowledge Faith and Religion are all but traditional literal and lifeless for in the true Knowledge of the Scriptures there must be an immediate reflection of Divine Light upon the Understanding from that Infallible Spirit which they were Ministers of who could truly distinguish between the Ministration of the Spirit and that of the Letter which thou hast not done p. 104. who sayest the Scriptures of the New-Testament are the Spirits New Administration from whence it follows that all that can preach those Scriptures are Ministers of the Spirit or New-Testament whereas many both can reâ—d and preach them litterally who are yet but Ministers of the Letter and never knew the immediate and living Administration of the Spirit from which the true Ministers preached who immediately were commissioned and whose Gospel came not in word only but in Spirit and in Power it
of it and neither of them owning the Scriptures as we have them and never like to be Converted by such shallow Contenders and impertinent Preachers as thou art And as for the Law and the Testimony thou speakest of pag. 125. they are yet unknown to thee for the Law is Light and the Testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophesie Prov. 6.23 Rev. 19.10 which were before the Scriptures And How are Spirits to be tryed as John exhorted 1 Joh. 4.12 To this thou sayest The holy Touchstone by which they are to be tryed is that golden Rule by which the noble Bereans tried the Doctrine of Paul even the Scriptures to know by what Spirit he spake And then thou addest By this we shall know the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of Error and not to prove a Spirit by a Spirit within From whence thou observest That that Spirit which will not be tried by the Scriptures is the Spirit of Antichrist p. 125. Answ. What gross Ignorance Error and perverting the Scriptures hast thou herein shewed thy self guilty of For first Where provest thou in all the Rule thou pretendest That the Scriptures are the Touchstone and golden Rule to try the Spirits by Produce us plain Scripture for this thy Doctrine or else confess thy Error 2dly The tryal of Spirits is more mysteriâ—us than meerly the trying of Doctrines by comparing them with Scriptures for many false Spirits bring Scripture who are not discerned to be such without the Spirit of God which searcheth all things 3dly John did not say That the Scriptures were the Touchstone by which they were to try the Spirits whether they were of God But he saith plainly These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you but the Anointing which you have received of Him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things c. 1 Joh. 2.20 26 27. Now then the tryal of Spirits being â—uch a weighty thing which they were concerned in this Unction in them was the Touchstone and that is the Spirit of Antichrist that opposeth this 4thly The Scripture doth not say That the Bereans tried Pauls Spirit by the Scriptures but that they received the Word with all readiness of mind mark that and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Acts 17. It is not said They searched them to try Pauls Spirit by them for their receiving the Word with all readiness of mind implyes some good belief they had of the Spirit in Paul by which he preached And when they had received the Word they daily searched the Scriptures not with prejudice against the true Ministers or Light within as many of you do but simply to see whether those things were so Now this kind of searching them we own the Word being received within which gives the understanding of the Scriptures And as for thy scoffing at the word Pure Seed calling it New-coyned without Book c. pag. 97. And thy saying Which Seed we vainly say is Christ begotten in us c. p. 98. Thou hast scofft herein without any ground and thereby discovered thy own folly For Is not the Incorruptible Seed a pure Seed and doth not the Apostle call the Seed Christ Gal. 3.16 And is not Christ in the true Believer where the Body is dead because of sin But thou that so nicely carps at words as pure Seed which is Christ within as being without Book what Scripture or Book thereof hast thou for thy calling the Scriptures the only Rule for Salvation for all men to the Worlds end and no other the Touchstone the golden Rule to try or know the Spirit of Truth from the Spirit of Error the ground of Faith c. Produce plain Scripture for these words or else confess thy Error who so exâ—ctly pretendest the Scripture thy Rule how dost thou square thy work by it what Rule canst thou produce for us to believe thou speakest truth when thou givest those Characters of the Scriptures which are not to be produced in them And was not the end of Paul's labouring with the Jews to turn them from Darkness to the Light within which thou contemptuously callst a pretended Spirit p. 127. Was his perswading them to believe in Christ in opposition to his Light within surely no but all in order to turn them to his Spirit or Light within But thou hast confessed his perswading them was concerning the Kingdom of God to teach them to believe on the Name of Jesus and direct them to the Kingdom of God see how manifestly thou art here Contradicted by thy own words for was not the Kingdom of God within Luke 17.21 And the Name of Jesus and its Power thou seest not who hast vilified His Light within and the Scriptures thou citest are against thee as that of Rom. 9 10 11 Chap. for both the Righteousness the Word of Faith and Grace were inward and spiritual Again To prove that the Scriptures make manifest the Righteousness of God thou citest Rom. 1.17 which is thy gross abuse of that Scripture for it saith that I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God unto Salvation and therein is his Righteousness revealed from Faith to Faith c. It is not said the Scriptures are the Power of God for the Power of God or Gospel was preached to Abraham before the Scriptures were written And to thy saying Faith hath a holy End which it leadeth to even the Salvation of Souls not now in man but at the last day when our bodies shall be raised out of the dust p. 123. And where provest thou this Doctrine Is not the Soul in man And is not its Salvation deliverance and safety from sin wrought within by the Power and Arm of God How dost thou essay to frustrate the End of the true Faith which is Salvation whilst thou sayest It leads to the Salvation of Souls not now in man but at the last day when our bodies shall be raised out of the dust And when thinkest thou shall that be Must all the Sâ—ints have their Hope Expectation and Faith for Salvation of their Souls unanswered till then what is become of their Souls all this while since their decease if they have not received the End of their Faith to wit Salvation in them Surely thou art yet in the dust and death and daâ—kness have power over thy mind or else thou wouldst never shew thy self such an ignorant Papist as here thou hast done for thou hast though at unawares run thy self into rank Popery putting Salvation of Souls so far off till thou knowest not when according to thy earthly and carnal conceits which thou wouldest have us believe for gracious Truths which thou sayest Quakerism doth not own unless in a Mystery to deceive But this is not thy first slanderous Conclusion against the Quakers who only oppose the graceless Errors and
for the Rule of Faith Life and Salvation must likewise be infallible pure and incorruptible Christ being the Author of the holy Faith and his Light the Rule of the right Understanding Conviction and Perswasion and consequently of the Belief J. N's Contrad The Gospel which was preached unto every Creature under Heaven was the Scriptures of the New Testament The Everlasting Gospel The general ground of Faith and Assurance Now to deny the Scriptures to be the Word is to deny the very Fountain and Well-spring of Comforts to the Soul in Afflictions pag. 12 35 42 44. The Scriptures is corrupted by man Prayer and Supplication to God by his Spirit by Faith in Christ God approveth Christ saith Ye will not come to me that ye may have Life pag. 20 24 44. Animad Both many Creatures and the Gospel were before the Scriptures were written and the Light of the Gospel is more general to ground Faith upon than the Scriptures and it is the Light of the Power or Gospel of God in the hearts And the Gospel is preached in every Creature under Heaven And eternal Life is in Christ the Incorruptible Seed the VVord Spirit Life and Light And God is the very Fountain whose fulness is in Christ and the Well-spring of Comforts to the Soul not the Scriptures This Opposer might as well say the Scriptures are God as the very fountain and well-spring of Comforts And those Unbelievers that thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures were like J. N. and his Brethren who will not come to Christ that they might have Life And if we must Pray and Supplicate God by the Spirit then the immediate guidance of the Spirit of God must be to us a Rule therein not the Letter J. N's Contrad The Scriptures are a perfect absolute Rule in order to man's Salvation for all men to walk by and none other For the sons of men to walk by unto the ends of the world pag. 32 33 34 35. A Second Covenant of his VVill he foretold Jer. 31. is still in force for all men to walk by and none other The Second Covenant was confirmed by the Blood of that spotless Lamb c. The Second Covenant of God's Will in order to man's Salvation was confirmed by the Death of his only begotten Son pag. 27 28. Animad If the second Covenant or new Testament may be the perfect Rule for all men to walk by and none other as is confest then must the immediate Teachings of God in his Spirit be followed and obeyed as the perfect Rule for the New Covenant-way is spiritual to wit the Law and Spirit of God in the inward parts and this is above the Writings or Letter outward which many in remote parts of the world have not Many have not the Bible who have a spiritual Light or Law of God within as the Gentiles had Rom. 2. And Paul was not a Minister of the Letter but of the Spirit wherefore thou that sayest the Scriptures are the absolute Rule for Salvation for all men to the worlds end when many of whom have them not therein thou hast shut out the spiritual Rule of the New Covenant and art one of them that tread the blood of Christ under foot by which the second Covenant was confirmed and ratified And why hast thou such hard thoughts of God as to think thaâ— all Nations that have not the Scriptures outwardly are deprived of Salvation for want of them But in plain Contradiction to thy self The second Covenant is a perfect Rule still in force for all men to walk by and no other J. N's Contrad The Scriptures of the New Testament so confirmed are a perfect Rule for all men to walk by and none other p. 29. The New-Testament Letter is to be our Rule pag. 103. In the second Covenant of his VVill in order to man's Salvation there is the Man Christ Jesus at the right hand of God c. In his second Covenant he hath promised himself to be â—he God of his People 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. pag. 29 30. Animad The Scriptures Writings or Letter outward whether of the Old or New Testament And the second Covenant which is spiritual and inward are two distinct things In this second Covenant God is the Teacher of his People himself immediately by his immediate Spirit Power or Unction within which teacheth the spiritual minds of all things which is true and no lye And what Scripture have Baptists for saying that the New-Testament Letter is to be our Rule Let them produce plain Scripture proof for their Assertion herein or else confess their error For Paâ—l expresly testified that God had made them able Ministers of the New-Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit c. 2 Cor. 3. He doth not say they were Ministers of the Letter of the New-Testâ—ment his words will bear no such meaning for he plainly distinguisheth between the New-Testament and the Letter as he doth between Spirit and Letter Many both Priests and Baptists have and preach from that he calleth the Letter of the New-Testament who never knew the Spirit in its living ministration although the Scriptures testifie thereto J. N's Contrad The Scriptures are a perfect Rule in order to Salvation for all men unto the end of the world The very fountain and well-spring of Comforts to the Soul pag. 44. Act. 3.23 It is said A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren saith Moses like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you observe that Him shall you hear c. In the second Covenant Salvation and Eternal Life to those that obey the same in his Son Christ a way to bring us to Life pag. 23 31 39 40 50. Animad See how manifestly this Opposer hath in these passages broke the neck of his own Cause For if the Son of God must be heard in all things and he the way to Life and Salvation be in him as confest then the Scriptures are not the fountain and well-spring of Comforts God is the Fountain not the Scriptures as most ignorantly and blasphemously is assetted of them Also note how J. N. hath totally confuted and destroyed his Cause of the Scriptures being the only Rule in what follows J. N's Contrad Abel Enoch Abraham Isaac Jacob Noah and the rest of the Holy Men before Moses day I grant they had a sufficient Rule before the Scriptures were written They had a more infallible Word to walk by viz. from God's own mouth than is now to us for it 's possible that some Scriptures might be corrupted This may be granted in the bâ—st sense that the Spirit is the Rule The Spirit is of more efficacy than the Letter I shall freely grant that the Spirit is greater than the Letter c. pag. 104 106 108 110 112. Animad Here 's enough granted to make void all the Baptists work for the Scriptures being the only Rule
Excommunication given forth by divers of the principal Baptists about BOW against one that forsook them and their dead wayes wherein the Reader may also take notice of their envy and falshood London the 12th month 1669. CHRIST Ascended above the Clouds c. JOHN NEWMAN's Instance to prove the Scriptures the Word Isa. 28.9 10 11 12 13. The Word of the Lord was to this People Precept upon Precept c. Pag. 6. Answ. Scriptures signifie writings and not the Word neither doth this Instance prove them to be the Word for the Prophets of God who speak as the holy Spirit moved them did both inwardly receive and speak forth Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little from the immediate Spiâ—it and Power of God as immediatly taught by him which is before and above the Scriptures thereof which no where â—ffirm themselves being the writings in an abstract sense to bâ— the Word Also preaching Jesus Christ the Word and the Scriptures aâ—e two things the one being in a living Power and Voice and the other in written Characters Moreover the Lord sendeth out his Word and melteth the Snow the Hoar-frost and Ice Psal. 147.18 Surely this Word is not the Scriptures J.N. There are a People labour to blind this Truth by affirming That Christ is the Word not the Scriptures for they say the Scriptures are the Sayings or Words of God pag. 13. Answ. To affirm Christ to be the Word and not the writings but that in them are the words or sayings of God words of his Covenant c. or that they contain a Declaration of God and Christ is no blinding of Truth but what is â—ffiâ—med in and by the Scriptures themselves and the Word of the Lord came to the Prophets before they spake forth or writ the words see Jer. 1.1 2. The words of Jeremiah to whom the Word of the Lord came J. N's Instance from Mark 4.14 What Word was this that the Devil taketh out of mens hearts None will think it Christ but the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Answ. The Seed sown in the heart by the Son of man hath virtue and life in it in the very being of it for rooting growth and increase of fruit which is more than the writings which no where in Scripture are called the Seed and can he say the Son of man did sow some Scriptures in the High-wayes which the Devil took Also many retain Scripture in the profession of it who notwithstanding are but as the high-way ground unfruitful in whom the Seed of Life doth not take root so that the Devil doth not steal away the Scriptures or Bible from them not properly Christ out of their hearts but he steals away their hearts and minds blinding them from the sense and sight of the vertue life and light of the Seed or Word of Life withiâ— J. N. The Word of God grew and multiplied Acts 19.20 Cannot be understood of Christ a multiplication of Christ p. 17 18. Answ. Can he then think that Bibles grew and multiplied Surely the Word had Life and heavenly Virtue in it that was capable of growth and its multiplying was both in the increase of gifts and adding to the number of them who received it and though Christ be but one yet his Life his living Word and Gifts both grow and increase where he is received J.N. Christ cannot be the Word because Christians may and ought to receive his Word into their hearts Christ is not received into the hearts of men nor in Person dwell in their hearts p. 21. Answ. How grosly Erroniously and Irrationally hath he asserted and reasoned that Christ cannot be the Word because the Word is received into the hearts and how contrary to plain Scripture to say Christ is not received into the hearts see 2 Cor. 13.5 Rom. 8.10 Col. 1.27 Christ in you except you be Reprobates Christ in you the hope of glory c. but that Christ in Person doth not dwell in the hearts who ever affirmed that he doth J. N's Instance from Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it None that will makâ— use of Reason can believe that Christ did intend that Christians should keep himself for every Christian is kept 〈◊〉 and Christ 1 Pet. 1.5 p. 15. Answ. Though Christians be kept by God and Christ it s through Faith and Obedience in the Light whereby they continue in both and retain God in their knowledge holding the Head which is Christ and holding fast the faithful Word keeping the Word of his Patience such keep the Truth all which amounts to the same or is equivolent with keeping Christ the Word the Truth the Life wherein is the Patience of God and Faith of the Elect exercised against all Temptations and Tryals which are not overcome by the writings without whicâ— cannot truly be called the Word of his Patience as J. N. doth without distinction when they express words of his Wrath Judgment and Displeasure against sin and wickedness But the word of Faith Life and Patience in the Soul immediately expresseth the Love and Patience of God and Christ unto it to aâ—m it in times of Afflictions and Tryals and this we are to keep For many both profess and keep Scriptures or Bibles who are out of the Patience of Câ—rist And now I Query What Reason is it this Opposer would have us make use of and what is the ground of it in man for he speaks of carnal Reason which cannot reâ—ch God and also a Reason to be made use of Pag. 64. Surely we cannot look on him to be such a Mastâ—r of Reason as infallibly to distinguish how highly soever he thinks of himself whilst he denies and opposeth the Light within as being but a feigned light John Nâ—wman where 's thy Reason and what and wâ—ence is it We must not take thy carnal dark and prejudiced Conception for Reason nor be swayed thereby when thou art ignorant of the very Grounds and Principles of true Reason and so much opposest plain Scripture which hypocritically thou pretendest for thy only Rule J.N. To deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God is to deny the very fountain and well-spring of comforts to the Soul in Affliction which is brought out of the Promises in the Scriptures to the Soul by the Spirit through Faith p. 44. Answ. How grosly Erroneous is it to deem the Scriptures the very Fountain and Well-spring of comforts and to say that the Spirit brings the Comforts from thence to the Soul whereas God is the Fountain which to say of the Writings is all one and as blasphemous as to say they are God as some of the Ranters have said as once one of them affirmed to me at Emnith near Wisbitch That the Bible which I had in my hand was God but he quickly after came to be distracted 2dly The Spirit and Gift of Christ is as a Well of Living Water in true Believers
and it is the Spirit of Promise the Comforter having the Life of all Gods Promises and Truth of Scriptures in it self from God the Fountain and this Spirit is infinite and so not â—ontained in the Scriptures though it contains the truths that are in the Scriptures of Truth for they came from the Spirit and it opens the understanding in the Scriptures as it 's waited in J.N. His sad Consequences which he thinks do follow the denying the Scriptures to be the Word and Rule proved inconsequent and his great Ignorance therein detected In Answer to his 43 44 45 pages There are no sad Consequences as he asserteth in denying the Scriptures to be the Word and Rule for Salvation And Fiâ—st I doth not take away the ground of Faith for Remission 2dly Nor Assurance for Christ and his Light within is the Ground and Foundation of Faith and Assurance 3dly Nor doth it make void the Exercise of Faith in the precious Promises for the Spirit of Promise both as a Rule manifests the Promises exerciseth Faith in and fulfils them 4thly Nor doth it deny the Comforts of Faith from the Promises the Spirit of Promise being both the Comforter and sheweth us things to come 5thly Nor doth it destroy the support supplies of Grace to the Soul in affliction For these we receive from God in his own Spirit and not from the writings outward 6thly Nor doth it deny the knowledge of Acceptance for that is given to us by the Spirit of God by which we are sealed unto the day of Redemption and know that we are oâ— God and the Mystery of Life and Salvation is revealed unto us by the Spirit 7thly Where the Spirit of Truth and its Light within is obeyed and truly owned to be the Guide and Rule it leaves not men in the dark nor out of the knowledge of God or enjoyment of Life eternal But to deny the Spirit or Ligh◠〈◊〉 Christ to be the Rule for Life and Salvation doth leave 〈…〉 dark void of saving Knowledge and Life J.N. 8thly Without this viz. the Scriptures to be 〈◊〉 c. we know not that there is any God or Christ or Salvation by God in Christ nor by what means it may be obtained all men are left in the dark and no man knoweth how to enjoy Life Eternal pag. 45. Neither do we know what God counteth unclean and what holy And in short without the Scriptures we know not any promise that belongeth to this life or that to come these dreadful conclusions will follow denying the Scripâ—ures to be the Word and Rule to Salvation and it leaves men to walk by fancy and imagination Answ. Poor men you hâ—ve shewn your selves sâ—fficiently herein and what an empty implicit Faith you are in and how void both of the knowledge of God Christ and Salvation you are and how yet in your sins having denied Christ and his Light within to bâ— your Rule Way and Foundation as he is to his followers and so you are walking by your fancies and imaginations wâ—o â—et the Scriptures in the place of Christ as your only and absolute Rule and Ground of your Faith and Knowledge And then if one should ask you How you prove the Scripâ—ures to be true if they must be the absolute and only Rule and none other then you mâ—st prove them by themselves or plead their own authority from an implicit Faith you have of them which is but still an absurd way of reasoning or assaying to convince gain-sayers being but Petitio principii a begging the Question And how would this convince either Papists Turks Jews Infidels or Athiests to tell them our Bible or Scriptures are infallibly true and the only Rule to know there is a God and a Christ and Salvation by him and to know what God counteth unclean and what holy And then what a sad sentence of no less than Condemnation doth this pass upon all People and Nations who have not the Scriptures as being all void of knowledge thâ—t there is either God Christ Salvation good or evil whereas there is a living Evidence throughout the Creation or Works of God therein of the eternal Power or Maker see Psal. 19. Rom. 1. Job 12. and many do know and have known these things written of which concerns Salvatâ—â—â— by the Light of God and Christ in them that never could 〈◊〉 or had the Scriptures outwardly as those Gentiles which 〈◊〉 the Law yet did those things contained in it and shewed 〈◊〉 â—ffects of the Law written in their hearts Rom. 2. though the Scriptures are profitable to the Man of God who hath them being led by his Spirit which opens them J.N. The Eternal Power and Spirit that was in Christ cannot properly be called Christ this Power or Spirit is God and not Christ. Answ. Contrary to plain Scriptures opposing both the Divinity and Deity of Jesus Christ who is both the Power and Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. The second Adam the quickning Spirit ch 15.45 And the Father the Word and Spirit are One 1 Joh. 5.7 J.N. The will and mind of God is contained in the Scriptures in order to mans Salvation p. 49. Answ. The Word contained is erroneously place for the Writings contain only a Declaration of the Mind and VVill of God in order to Salvation God and his Mind Thoughts VVill and Wayes are Infinite and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Him J.N. The Word was in the beginning but Christ was in time not till he had taken Nature upon him and became in the likeness of sinful Man being born of the Virgin Mary Christ was not the Word before Christ was pag. 50 51. Answ. This Assertion opposseth the Deity and Divinity of Jesus Christ and contradicts the faithful Testimonies of the Holy men of God in the Scriptures of Truth For if the Son of God was not the Word nor in the Beginning nor before the Virgin Mary then Jesus Christ was not God but is represented as a finite Creature But the Erroneousness of this is apparent for the Word was with and was God in the beginning by which he created the Heavens and framed the Worlds Joh. 1.1 2 3. Heb. 11.3 And that this Word was Jesus Christ is plain seeing it's expresly said God created all things by Jesus Christ Eph. 3.9 Yea all things visible and invisible were created by him Col. 1. But if Jesus Christ the Son of God was not in being before he took flesh in the womb of the Virgin or was not before Mary how could all things be created by him And Nebuchadnezzar was of a better belief than to think that the Son of God was not in his time for he said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God Dan. 3.25 And was not this before Mary or Christ's outward-birth of her All ye Baptists answer me what Scripture had he
having the immediate evidence of the Spirit in it from God which the Letter or outward writing hath not for it is directed and given to us traditionally though I intend no invalidating of it hereby but do oppose that spirit and doctrine which sets it out of its place that calleth the Letter the Only Rule for Salvation and so leaveth no room for the Immediate Teachings of God's Spirit or Light as the Rule in these days Which is the old defign and work of Antichrist which thou J. N. and others of thy Brethren are carrying on to keep people in blindness in a dark faith under your trâ—ditional teachings who can give no certain demonstration for the ground of your Faith and yet thou hast granted the Spirit to be more vertuous and greater than the Letter p. 112. Enough to confute thy opinion of the Scriptures being the only Rule for now the Spirit is greater But then again thou tellest us The sufficiency of the Saints Rule and Guidâ— standeth in the Spirit and Scripture both For sayest thou they cannot be separated in their Nature Purity c. p. 110. At if thou wouldest not freely grant the Spirit 's sufficiency without the Scriptures or to those that have them not but seemest to limit or tye up the Spirit to the Scripture as being inseparable in their Nature and Purity as if the Nature of the Writing were â—he Nature of the Spirit and equally Pure with it whereas the Spirit cannot be corrupted and its Râ—le is more infallible than the Scriptures according to thy own Confession and also thou hast confessed That in all Dispensations God never left his People without a word of Direction either written or immediately from his own mouth p. 106 110. So that here it appears some had immediate Directions from God who had not the letter and so may many now for ought thou knowest for God is not limitted though thou wouldest limit his Spirit and the Saints to the letter as if none were Saints and Believers but who had the Scriptures Oh! Ignorance and yet thou hast confessed That the Spirit is of more efficacy and greater than the Letter p. 110 112. How then is the Letter the only Rule And I ask Is that Word the Scriptures or Letter which thou sayest Christians are nursed with the sincere Milk of Does Milk flow from Letter or Spirit And is the nourishment of the new-born Babes 1 Pet. 2.2 the Letter Or are none true Babes but who have the Letter What ignorance narrowness and pinching work art thou found in who hast so tyed up all to and in the Letter as Spirit only Rule sincere Milk Well-spring of Comforts c. And yet grants p. 115. That the Spirit is the Key of Divine Knowledge which overthrows thy work about the Scriptures in thy setting them out of their place As also to the Query p. 117. Whether the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures be a sufficient Rule and Guide To this thou answerest viz. Who is so ignorant as to deny the sufficiency of God's Spirit If thou doest not deny it Why doest thou go about to tye up all men to the Worlds end unto the Scriptures as the only Rule when now thou doest not deny the Spirits sufficiency as Rule and Guide nor darest thou assert the Scriptures sufficient without the Spirit though thou grantest That the Spirit is sufficient apart from the Scriptures which thou callest â—â—e Word pag. 118. Then the Scriptures are not the only Rule the Spirit being the Key of divine Knowledge the sufficient Rule above the Scriptures and greater than they As Also in pag. 116. thou confessest That there are secrets and private discoveries that God makes to the Soul by his blessed Spirit which are not manifest to any but to the heart that doth enjoy it These secrets are to those that fear him c. Where note That these secrets and private discoveries are not manifest to all that have the Scriptures but to those that fear God 2d That they are not made manifest or revealed by the Letter or Scripture outward but by the blessed Spirit inward unto the heart and soul that feareth God or hath Communion with him in his own Light Life and Spirit which is greater and above the Letter Again A further Confutation to thy self appeareth pag. 108. where thou grantest in the best sense That the Spirit is the Rule in its own Administration To which I say This still confutes thy work for that Administration is immediately and inwardly received from the Spirit which in the best sense is the Rule and this Spirit being the greatest all wholesome Doctrines Teachings and Directions are contained and summed up in it and so the Scriptures of Truth are not hereby made void though not the only Rule but fulfilled in them who walk after the Spirit or Rule of the New Creature for if you walk in the Spirit then are you not under the Law and they begun well who begun in the Spirit But whereas thou turnest â—ound again tying up the Spirits Rule to this viz. Doctrine and Teaching delivered in words also written in Scriptum est sayest thou As also that the word Regeneration signifies twice born to wit both after the flesh and from a state of sin whereas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to regenerate is to beget again not after the flesh Here Thy Divinity and Scholarship may both go together for where the Rule of the Spirit thou limittest to the Writing how consists this with the Spirits sufficiency to them that have not the Scripture or to its sufficiency apart or alone But 't is no strange thing for thee and such to be found in such manifest self Contradictions However thou wouldst have us take notice that thou art both a Divine and a Scholar And thy saying That Christ cannot be a Rule for any man in his Personal being p. 94. What makes this for thy purpose May it not be here implyed that he hath a spiritual being and that he can be and is a Rule in it to his People as He is their Way to walk in And where hast thou these words Personal being in thy Rule Is the Essence or Being of the Son of God Personal Was not his Being Divine before his Incarnation or Appearance in Person But thou appearest as ignorant both what Essence or Being is and what Person is which are different Again Thou appearest as grosly mistaking the state of the Controversie where thou sayest viz. What if my Spirit lead me to Mahomets Rule Or if my Spirit perswade me to believe the Popes mouth to be infallible c. Now it is not thy Spirit that may thus egregiously mislead thee that we are pleading for the Rule of but it is the infallible Spirit of Truth which gave forth the Scriptures neither is thy Assertions concerning the Scriptures any valid Plea or Argument to convince either Turks or Papists who are both out of the Truth and the Spirit
too strong and mighty for you Now unto the King Eternal Immortal Invisible the only wise God be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Tim. 1.17 The Baptist and Presbyter c. conjunct against us to their own Disjunction and Confusion OR A Relation of some Heads of Two Discourses in London the first whereof was the 28 th of the 10 th Month 69. at which Thomas Danson formerly Priest of Sandwich in Kent and William Kiffin Baptist with the Assistance of Ald. Hayes joyned against us THe Question disputed on both times was Whether the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith yea or nay VVhich was affirmed by them but denyed by us Now let the impartial Readers note how confused and contradictory they were in the management of their Affirmation As first when we had excepted against their Affirmation the particle Only being exclusive of any higher Rule yea even of the Spirit of Truth it self and importing the Scriptures as the chief or sole singular and alone Rule of Faith excluding all other Now when any of these our Opposers did at any time include the Spirit or the divine illumination thereof in the understanding when they had asserted the Scriptures to be the only Rule this Contradistion they divers times appeared in And T. D. when he could not stand by the Assertion in the terms proposed instead of the word Scriptures he would have it The Doctrines contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the only Rule of Faith which he also could not prove according to his general Assertion therein and his disserting the terms of the Question to wit of the Scriptures being the only Rule he rendred no sufficient Reason for it for the Doctrines as contained therein have still relation to the Scriptures which are of divers kinds as those of the Law for the Circumcision and other Shadows and those of the New Testament forbidding them But yet though one while the Scriptures and another while the Doctrines contained in them were asserted to be the only Rule of Faith in Contradiction to this he would assent to the guidance of the Spirit of God and would include the Holy Ghost in the comfort of the Scriptures and confess at length That the Scriptures without divine illumination are but the foundation of an historical Faith and not a saving Faith and that a man may believe the historical part and not be saved and that the divine illumination of the Spirit is the Foundation and Rule of saving Faith Observ. Mark Here is a Foundation or Rule of the Spirit assented to above the Scriptures If the divine illumination of the Spirit be the Rule of the Understanding the Rule for Conviction and consequently the Rule of Faith then the Scriptures are not the only Rule And T. D. granted That the Scriptures are not the Rule of Conviction for those that denied their divine Authority it being but a begging the Question to argue from Scripture for the Conviction of such c. Therefore it follows that the inlightning of the holy Spirit which is able to convict Gain-sayeâ—s is a Rule above the Scriptures which therefore are not the only Rule But W. Kiffin to prove their first Assertion so much confuted by T. D. himself told us That the Director and Rule to Faith and Salvation were two distinct things as the Way to Bristol and my Director into the Way and that the Scriptures are the only Rule and Way in which we are to walk and the Spirit of God is the Guide and Director c. Answ. To thâ—s he was Answered That Christ is both the Leader and Director into the way of God and the Way also and that we are to walk in the Spirit and therefore his asserting that the Director is not the Way in this Instance against the Spirit being the Rule is all one as to say Christ cannot be the Way because he is the Guide which is contrary to his own Testimony And while W.K. did state the Way and Rule as the same or equivolent he mâ—nifestly ran to his own confutation Christ Jesus and his Light being the Author of Faith and only Way to Salvation As to the Question If the Scriptcres come where men question them or their Relation of those Miracles or Works of God's Power c. which T.D. argued as ground or matter of Conviction c. How shall such be Convicted by that Relation which they question without the Living Evidence of the Spirit T. D. replied Would you question whether there were such a man as King Henry the Eight c. Answ. This is not an Answer to the only Rule of Faith and proves no farther than a traditional Faith and by this it appears what is the nature of these mens Faith and how weak for they did not know that there was a King Henry the Eight by divine illumination and sure the Spirit and Power that gave forth the Scriptures hath an influence upon the understandings and opens the Holy Scriptures where it is submitted to within His Instance of King Henry the Eight was a very mean and pitiful one in this case to answer the Ground and Rule of true and living Faith which is the Gift of God and whereof Christ is the Author Farther Mark what corrupt Doctrines and Extravagancies the said T.D. runs into against the universal extent of the Spirit of God and sufficiency of his Light having granted or supposed many places in the World where there is neither Bible nor Minister to Preach he proceeded as followeth T. D. I say that God ordinarily doth not by his Spirit immediately reveal the Doctrines contained in the Scriptures meaning without them His Spirit doth not go into the farthest parts of India where the Scriptures are not the Spirit of God doth not go into the remotest parts of the World We suppose there are some placâ—s where there is neither Bible nor Minister I do not understand any ground that the Spirit in those places doth immediately reveal those things c. p. 9. Answ. 1. See if this be not a limitation put upon the Spirit of God and a denial of its alone sufficiency to teach or reveal all Truth without the Scriptures And how this man supposes that there are remote places where the Spirit doth not come which is contrary to plain Scripture Whither shall a man go from the Spirit or flee from the presence of God see Psal. 139.7 8 9 10. for his Presence fills Heaven and Earth 2dly Supposing that in some places they have neither the Scriptures nor their outward Preaching it were a sad sentence to conclude them all in a state of Damnation for want thereof and to conclude that therefore God doth not afford them of his Spirit or Light to be an inward Rule of their Faith without the Scriptures What cruelty doth this charge upon God against his Creatures And what a narrow limitation doth this put upon his Spirit to allow him his