Antichrists and as such rejected by us But in this we apply our selves to the Reader in general intending herein a farther discovery of that mysterie of iniquity and spirit of deceit and Antichrist that works privily in and by them to a denying the Lord that bought them and that by a manifestation of the Truth without hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftinesse as they have done That so we may be instrumental in instructing the Ignorant strengthening the weak and edifying and preserving believers in their most holy Faith And if yet it might be to any of them in undeceiving the deceived that are already turned aside after Satan to follow the pernicious wayes of this spirit of Antichrist as found in this people called Quakers or in any other that appear not under that name or form with them for the same spirit is working in and walking in by many others 1. Que. Their first question is whether do you own that Christ hath two Bodies one in Heaven and another on Earth yea or nay Answ Here are two questions in this one Namely Whether we own that Christ hath two Bodies 2. VVhether one in Heaven and another on Earth and in both parts ambigiously propounded in such generall and doubtfull tearms as are capable of divers acceptations without declaring in what sence they use any of those generall tearms in the query so that it is not capable of receiving a single and direct answer as propounded by them For 1. The word body is used diversly in Scripture sometimes for divers members of flesh and bone compact together and united in one Person to one personal Head 1 Cor 12. 12. 14. 20. Rom. 12. 4. And in this sence the man hath a body of his own distinct from his wives and the woman a body of her own distinct from her husbands 1 Cor. 7. 4. Sometimes for divers persons compact together and united in one politick or mystical body under one Governour as their head or for such society union and fellowship made up of divers persons as in which they are joyntly set and compact together for the good of each other and therein for others benefit So the man and his wife are one flesh one body who yet in the sore mentioned sence of the word Body have each their distinct body of their own as we shewed see Mat. 19. 5 6. Eph. 5. 28. 29. 33. 1 Cor. 6. 16. So also divers persons united and set in order in a Common-wealth or corporation under one Head or Government so as each may serve for the good of the other and all joyntly for the good of the whole are one body not personall but politick where every member hath his particular personall body distinct from each other as Eph. 2 12. with Cap. 3. 6. In some answerable sence likewise the words the Body of Christ are used in Scriptures in a two-sold sence as to say 1. For that body of his flesh in which the Word was made flesh and came and dwelt among men on the Earth in which many members of flesh and bones hands and feet were united in one personal body even in that one body which as in the Counsel of God foreordained from the beginning so in due time was actually prepared for him when he came into the World by the gift and appointment of the Father in the power and operation of the Holy Ghost In which he was made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law and in which himself bore our sins on the Tree dyed and was buried and the third Day rose again and appeared oft to his Disciples and affirmed and demonstrated himself to be that very He in the same body having flesh and bones hands and feet which they before had seen yea the same in which while some of them beheld him he was taken up from them and carryed into Heaven and there compleated the offering up of himself in that his own Body once for all And in which he remaineth on the right hand of God in Heaven it self till the times of the Restitution of all things when he will come again and appear in the same body as visibly as he went up and in the Glory he now possesseth for us in Heaven with the Father Col. 1. 22. with John 1. 14. Heb. 10. 5. 10. with Mat. 1. 18 22. Luke 1. 34 35. and Gal. 4 4. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Luke 23. 46. 52. 23. and 24. 3. 6 7. 36. to the end John 20. Acts 1. 9. 11. and 3. 21. His body in this sence of the word is called the body of his flesh as distinguished from his body in such a sence as his Church spiritually and by Faith united with him are said to be his body see Col. 1 22. 24. And as distinguished from our personal bodies that while in this mortal state are vile the Body of Christ in this first sence as raised from the dead and exalted is called his Glorious Body Phil. 3. last 2. The same words the Body of Christ are also used to expresse to us a society or Congregation of many distinct persons united to him by Faith as their Head and Husband And so all those that by the love of God commended by the Holy Ghost through the blood of Christ and the Excellency of Christ discovered in the Preaching of his Crosse are Redeemed and drawn off from other objects and brought in to believe in him and so united by Faith to him and in love to him and one another to be ordered by the Royall Law These are his Congregation House or Church and so his Body whereof he in his personal body is the head And they each in their distinet personal bodies while here on Earth Spiritually and by Faith members of him in love and fellowship members also of one another Even as he that is joyned to a Harlot or Woman is one flesh and so they twayn are one flesh and so one body in a fleshly union or union in the flesh So in some answerable sence he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit and so of that one body in the unity of the Spirit Eph. 4. 3. 4. Yea even their particular bodies in this unity of the Spirit are the members of Christ and so of the one mystical body of Christ of his House Temple or Church yet each member hath his distinct personall body distinct from each other and all distinct from his personal body in which he is the head of his body the Church 1 Cor. 6. 15. 17. Eph. 1. 22 23. with Act. 20. 28. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 27. Rom. 12. 5. Again 2. To have may be diversly said As to say 1. A man may have something as part of himself and so our Saviour even after his Resurrection from the dead is said by himself to have flesh bones hands and feet so as a spirit hath not and so to have them as of the essence of
namely for societies or congregations of distinct persons united and gathered tother under one head or Governour And his having them be understood in the second sence of having mentioned namely by donation and Covenant as his Church or Spouses Then to the question we further answer That in such a sence he hath one body and no more forasmuch as he the Head and Husband to whom being joyned Spiritually and by Faith they are of his Mystical body is but one that body can be no more but one for to them all there is but one Head Husband and Lord They are all built upon one foundation even Jesus Christ himself he being the chief corner Stone in whom the building fitly framed together groweth into an Holy Temple in the Lord Eph. 2. 18. 22. So though there be many members and also many particular societies of believers upon Earth yet they all make but one body or general Assembly and Church of the first-born Yea all believers now living upon the Earth and all dead as to the flesh even all the dead in Christ that sleep in Jesus whose spirits are made perfect are but one body of Christ in that sence of the word body as Eph. 4. 4. with 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. with Ephes 2. 18. 22. Heb. 12. 22. 25. And this his body may be said to be partly in Heaven partly on Earth for there in Heaven with him are the spirits of Just men made perfect Unto whom also those unfeigned believers living upon the Earth are come by Faith which is the evidence of things not seen the confidence of things hoped for and so Spiritually and by Faith have their conversation in Heaven from whence also they look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change their vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his Glorious body So then the body of Christ is but one in any one sence of the word body though as the word body is used in divers sences he hath a body which is peculiarly called his Body or the body of Christ in two sences As the head of some believing women is spoken of in a threefold sence 1 Cor. 11. her personall head her husband and Christ yet in proper and strict speaking she hath but one head because her head is but one in any one sence of the word head but one personal head but one husband but one Christ yet her head in each of these sences is distinct yea every member of the Body of Christ the Church hath a personal head of their naturall body distinct from Christ the mystical head of them all So hath Christ a personal body and members called the body of his Flesh his now Glorious Body Col. 1. 22. Phil. 3. 21. Distinct from his body the Church Col. 1. 24. else he could be no meet or proper head for such a body or Congregation where every member hath a particular personal body and members distinct But take body in any one sence of the word Body and there is not two but one Body of Christ as before is shewed nor indeed are any of his Body the Church but such as are by Faith united and joyned unto that one Lord in that his one personal body now Glorified with the Father as their Head Lord and Husband Nor are the head and members divided but their union is spiritual and by Faith not sensual The head is the fore-runner and in that his own personal body in which he bore our sins and is the head of his body the Church He is already entred into Heaven whether the members in their particular bodies are not in a like sence entered but by Faith and hope do enter and so have their conversation in Heaven from whence they look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change their vile body that it may be fashioned into the likensse of his Glorious Body for here they walk by Faith and not by sight And while they are at home in the clay Tabernacle flesh or natural body they are absent from the Lord in a like sence as at home in the body they are not otherwise present with him now but in Spirit and by Faith Heb. 4. 3. 10. 14. and 6. 19 20. 2 Cor. 5. 6 7. Heb. 10. 37 38. Phil 3. 20 21. Col. 3. 1. 4. Such therefore are not of the true Church or body of Christ but of Antichrist as are vainly puft up with their sensual minde not holding the Head c. Col. 2. 18 19. And that these men are such appeares in their seeking to insinuate by this query and the rest that to believe and acknowledge that the man Christ Jesus continues even in that body of his flesh now Glorified with the Father as the Head of the Church in a personal being distinct from his body the Church and from every member thereof is to make Christ to have two Bodies one in Heaven and another on Earth and therefore they endeavour privily to make a nullity of his personal body the body of his flesh or to deny his still having it and possessing now in it that Glory which he had with the Father before the World was and so hold not the head forasmuch as he is not otherwise the Head of his Body the Church But as now he is in that personal body Glorified and because this man continues ever in that Name and Glory of his Father which through sufferings in the same Body he hath obtained for us that by him our Faith and Hope might be in God We have been the larger in this first Answer as well to help the weak in understanding things that differ or are distinct that so they may discern and approve things that are excellent as also to shew the corruptnesse of their way in confounding things clearly distinct and distinguished in the Scripture and seeking by such confusion to work their ends in deceiving the simple which also may further appeare in their following Queries and the more easily by the help of what hath been said in answer to this W. and F. Quest 2. Whether the Body of Christ which is the fulnesse of God whereof the Saints are members is a Body of Flesh and Bones in the Heavens yea or nay Answ This Question also is foolish and unlearned for besides that it privily pursues the same designe of denying the remaining of the being of the personal Body of our Lord Jesus Christ and that in the same way with the former by confounding things clearly distinct c. as aforesaid It also takes that for granted as the ground of it which is not granted by us in those expressions it being no where so expressed in the Scripture of the body of Christ in either sence Namely That the body of Christ is the fulnesse of God Of him in his own personal body in which he is the Head of his body the Church the Scriptures saith in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead
that he should even so come again in like manner as they had seen him go up into Heaven for that was in a body with flesh and bones in it and was visible to the eye till a cloud received him out from their sight and that this you deny appears in what you have said before of the Church being his body onely and by what follows viz. That as he who is the Word became flesh so when the days of his flesh were finished he was translated into his own glory which he had with his Father from eternity and so the second Adam is a quickning Spirit for in those words you imply that his flesh or the substance of his body in which he bare our sins is ceased and so that his humanity or what he took of the Virgin and of the seed of David after the flesh is gone so as he is onely a Spirit without any human body but how then did the Apostle oppose Christ in his ascending into Heaven unto David Acts 2. 34 45. For by that David ascended as much as Christ for his Spirit went to God when his body went to the dust Eccles 12. 7. And it seems by your sayings Christs body is not ascended but by the Apostles saying Christ is opposed to David in ascending in what he David ascended not whose body he says is the sepulchre therefore it follows that the body of Christ is ascended and is taken up into glory and is called the glorious body of Christ to which the believers body is to be conformed and changed into its likeness not into the Churches likeness sure which as yet is much of it in a suffering state and not a glorious body yea the Apostle tells us that of the fruit of Davids loines according to the flesh Christ is raised up to sit upon his throne Acts 2. 30. Is he the man Jesus the Mediator of God and us the propitiation for our sins as a Spirit merely Or is he the man Christ as he is God in us or a Spirit in Union with his Church And is so as he the propitiation for our sins then he bare his own sins in his body and is the propitiation for himself seeing the Church is he or part of him his body that was offered up for us It 's true the second Adam was made a quickning Spirit yet abides a man and hath a glorious body dictinct from his Church to which our body is to be conformed even as Adam was a living soul yet had a natural body W. and F. To your question you aske us viz. Whether we believe that body the saints upon earth do discern and which the world cannot discern is a body of flesh and bones yea or nay We answer it 's the body that was broken for us and is to be fed upon by us as is plain in 1 Cor. 11. 24. 29. not discerning the Lords body it 's that that is remembred and communicated with in the supper of the Lord which ordinance you have denied in your queries to us and that body was the same that Christ shewed to have flesh and bones in it and in which he went up into Heaven as before think you the Church was given and broken for us and is the breaking of the Church that which we are to have communion with and remember as the matter of our seeding in that Ordinance Though the body mysticall of Christ his Church is also to be discerned by the believers and is not by the world but if the Church be the body discerned which in the supper we have the communion of and which was broken for us then the flesh of Christ which we eat is something of the Church the flesh and substance of the Church and so the Church is to eate itself what confused stuff is this that is insinuated by you to us But by the reason you give off your propounding that question viz. seeing we own the believers or Church to be the body of Christ and plead for another body of Christ distinct from them it 's plain without contradiction that you deny the personall body of Christ to be and abide in the Heavens and to deny the man Jesus to be the Object of the believers faith and why shamed you to speak out this so broadly at the dispute Was you then more bashfull and are since grown more audacious and impudent W. and F. They say It 's grosse confusion to say that believers are Members of Christs flesh and bones and then to say they are not flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone as if Christ had two bodies of flesh and bone one of which the saints are not Members when the Apostle says as much as they were flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone in saying no man ever hated his own flesh but nourisheth it and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church for we are Members of his body of his flesh and of his bones Ephes 3 30. Rep. Surely the grosse confusion is clearly in themselves here as is easie to demonstrate 1. They bely us in saying of us that we said what we said not viz. That believers are Members of Christs flesh and bones we said the Apostles preached that the believers are Members of his body of his flesh and of his bones neither the Greek nor the Latine as G. W. At least as to the Latine may know will bear that construction Members of his flesh and bones but Members of his body of that is out of his flesh and of or out of his bones ex carne ejus ex ossibus ejus 2. Is his Church flesh and bones said they not above that a body of flesh and bones cannot be said to be in the Heavens but if believers be a body of flesh and bones as they are if they be flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones must they not needs be then a body of flesh and bones in Heaven seeing they grant his body to be in the heavens yea to be the fulness of God that filleth all in all both in Heaven and earth is flesh and bones the fulness of God filling all in all both in Heaven and earth 'T is true that the Church consists of Members that each of them have personall heads and bodies of flesh and bones as men but are they flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone Is our flesh of Christs flesh and our bone of Christs bone How then hath not Christ flesh and bone of his own distinct from the body his Church if our flesh be flesh of his flesh and our bone be bone of his bone Doth not that phrase speak plainly of flesh and bones of his distinct from the Church which they say too is flesh and bone is not the confusion then in these men that deny Christ to have a body of flesh and bones distinct from his Church and then to say his Church is flesh of his flesh and bone of
himself handle me and see that is I my self For the Word was made flesh and therefore even that flesh or body could not be holden of Death Luke 24. 39. John 1. 14. with Acts 22. 24. 31. c. Or 2. A man may have other things or persons as relations to him by marriage Covenant or by Blood So a man is said to have his wife and the woman her husband 1 Cor. 7. 12. 13. likewise instructed to have one another according to such covenant and relation ver 2. So persons are said to have children or nephews as relation in the flesh though neither is the husband the wife nor the wife the husband nor is the child the father or the father the child c. But these are distinct relations and distinctly related to and so had by each other as well as distinct persons In some answerable sence it may be said Jesus Christ hath his Body the Church as his spouse and children and they have him as their Head Husband Father and Lord in that Covenant and Relation that is in the unity of the Spirit as appears by those comparisons and instructions from them Ephes 5. 23. 32. with Chap. 4. 4. 6. c. And yet Christ is not the Church but the Head and Husband of it and so neither is he who is the head of his body the Church A body in such a sence of himself alone without his members that are so Mystically and Spiritually I say not in such a sence as they joyned to him as their head are said to be his Body Whence as he in his own personal body now glorified is the head of a body in the last sence namely of his body the Church in such a sence and in such consideration of him they are said to be his fulnesse who yet receives nothing from them but filleth all in all But he as the head of the body and so that his body in the last sence is made up and compleated of them by what they receive from him and are made in him Ephes 1 22. 23. And so neither are they any of them or all of them together the Christ the head of the Body or Husband of the Church But his Body Church or Spouse as joyned to him Spiritually and by Faith and members thereof in particular 1 Cor. 12. 12. 13. 27. Eph. 5. 23. 25. 32. The having each other in this sence is not such as confounds the distinction of persons or relations or makes the one the other 3. One may also truly be said to have things or persons which yet he hath not in such relation nor are so related to him and that either in a propriety or interest in them by right of purchase gift or otherwise or in possession And so according to these divers sences in which these words are used we might answer to this first question whether Christ hath two bodies In some sences yea and in others nay But for the help of others we answer more fully thus 1. If by bodies be understood personal bodies and also by having them be meant as in the last mentioned sence in which one may be said to have things or persons as we are left at liberty to take any sence in which the words are used whether they so propounded it out of weaknesse or wickednesse we will not determine then thus we answer Christ hath an innumerable multitude of bodies as well as souls even the bodies and spirits of all men are his and of right in his dispose For 1. He hath interest in them by creation for all things were made by him and for him John 1. 3. Col. 1. 16 17. and by redemption for he gave himself a ransom for all and hath bought them all even them that deny him he hath redeemed them from the curse of the Law to be under his Government dispose and judgement and by means thereof 2. He hath the dispose and dominion of them committed to him for the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son and hath given him authority to execute judgement also because he is the Son of man All things are delivered unto him of his Father even the Heathen for his inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his possession And therefore also 3. He shall inherit all Nations yea all shall be raised and judged by him at the last day for to this end Christ both dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord of both dead living whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords 1 Tim. 2. 6. 2 Pet. 2. 1 Gal. 3. 13. with Rom. 5 18 Col. 1. 20. John 12. 31 32. and 5. 22. 27 28. Math. 11. 27. Psal 2 6 7 8. Rom. 14. 7 8 9. c. who can number the bodies he hath in this sence on the Earth surely even these deceivers that privily deny the Lord that bought them and those deceived by them are all his and shall be judged by him even by the man Christ Jesus by whom God hath ordained to judge the World in Righteouenesse whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Job 12. 16. John 5. 22. 29. Acts 17. 31. And as for the bodies of those that with the heart believe on him they are his in a more peculiar manner even members of him as is before shewed But 2. If by Bodies be understood personal Bodies and by having be meant as in the first mentioned sence his having them as of the essence or being of himself Then our answer to the question is nay There are not divers personal bodies of Christ not two that may each properly and peculiarly be called the Body of Christ but there is one which is more then these men believe and that which they privily endeavour to deny in these queries and he hath it and continueth in it for ever And it is the same and no other that was prepared for him in the womb of the Virgin in which he appeared once in the last ages of the World to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself And in this his own Body himself bore our sins on the Tree and being raised from the dead the third day is now passed into the Heavens and there received by the Father till the times of the restitution of all things and because this man continueth for ever therefore he hath an unchangeable priesthood is now appearing in the presence of God in the Heaven it self for us the man Christ Jesus the Mediator between God and man and great high Priest over the House of God even Jesus the Son of God passed into the Heavens for us For if he were on Earth he were not such a Priest as becomes us to have 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. Heb. 7. 23. 26. and 8. 1. 3 4 and 9 24 and 10. 5. 12. Again 3. If Bodies be understood in the 2d sence of the word body mentioned
bodily Col. 2. 9. with Capter 1. 19. Not that his body is the fulnesse of God or of the God-head but that dwells in him bodily that so of his fulnesse we might receive And of his Body the Church he saith it is his fulnesse namely the fulness of Christ as he is the Head of a Body viz. of an union of many persons in one Body now although that head be God blessed for ever and he and the Father are one though distinct in respect of the manner of their being in the God-head and as so distinct as Christ is the Head of the Church so the Head of Christ is God 1 Cor. 11. 3. So although Christ who is the Head of the Church be God yet the Church is not said to be his fulnesse simply as he is God but as he is the Head of the Church and that is as he is God man in one Person the Man Christ Jesus now raised from the dead and continuing ever with the the Father even as so considered he is the Fountain of all fulnesse for us and filleth all in all compare Ephes 1. 20. 23. with chap. 4. 8 9 10 c. and Col. 1. 13. 19. and 2. 9. 19. Heb. 7. 23 24 25. as so considered he is the Head of the Church and as he in that his personal body is the Head and Husband so the Church is his fulnesse even as Eve was Adams or as the Natural Body is the Heads fulnesse the Church is that in which is the fulnesse or compleating of him as he is the Head of a body viz. of an union of many persons in one body for so as we have shewed before he could not have a Body in such a sence had he not members many Persons united to himself as their Head Governour and Husband Further also their Querie is perverse and corrupt in that it intimately charges us as calling the Personal Body of our Lord Jesus Christ now Glorified a Body of flesh and bones which is a slander for it is not our expression but theirs used oft by way of derision and reproach of him and though possibly we may sometimes have let it pass without consideration or particular notice of it in some discourse that may have passed between us yet the expression we own not but say with the Scripture That the Personal Body of Christ hath flesh and bones hands and feet even the same in which he once suffered for sins the just for the unjust truly called the Body of his flesh and in that very body he is now glorified yea this we have divers times asserted to them in answer to such their deriding expressions and still do assert that the Personal Body of our Lord Jesus Christ for which we contend is not a body without a spirit which a body of flesh and bones may be yet we are so far from being ashamed of the Words of Christ and bearing the reproach cast upon his Glorious Body by them That as we know and believe as the Scripture hath said so we confesse that Jesus Christ was made of the Seed of David after the Flesh Rom. 1. 3. made of a woman Gal. 4. 4. and so took part of flesh and blood with mankind that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil c. Heb. 2. 14 15 16. and so he dyed as man mortal but he rose again the same body spiritual and immortal his Body not a spirit though spiritual yet truly a body yea the body of a man and in that sence humane The same he that dyed and was buried is risen and ascended having flesh and bones even such as before his ascention was seen and handled by his Disciples and so himself saith of himself and did walk speak and eat before them and shewed them his hands and his feet to confirm the same Luke 24. 36. 44. John 20. and 21. And while he blessed them and they beheld him he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven Luke 2. 50 51. Acts 1. 9 10 11. And as his Disciples that saw were blessed so he hath also pronounced them blessed that have not so seen and yet believe John 20. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 8. so that though we call not his personal body a body of flesh and bones yet believing his sayings we are not ashamed to confesse he hath flesh and bones though not carnal or mortal like mortal men whole life is in then blood and may be let out with a Sword and must die But his though humane yet spiritual and immortal and because of that suffered and done by him in that Body in which he hath overcome death and so received gifts in the man it s by way of Eminency and Peculiarity called his flesh and his bones and he in that body is in the Heaven of Heavens nor is there any but the Spirit of Satan in Antichrist that will move any to deny or reproach this as these do From all which considerations we refuse this Question as thus stated by them as foolish unlearned corrupt and prophane But yet for the help of the weak if it be queried what is that his Body of which he is said to be the Head and which is said to be his fulnesse as he is the Head Ephes 1. 23. We answer Not his Body in the first sence but in the second viz. not such an union of many Members in one Body as in which they are all united in one person or personal body but the union of many persons believers or Persons so imputed that have each a distinct personal Body in one mystical body Church or Congregation under that one head who hath also a distinct personal body of his own in which he is the head and also the Saviour of that his Body the Church see the Text Ephes 1. 22 23. with chap. 5. 23. 28. If it be further Queried whether the Body of Christ in this sence or his Body the Church have flesh and bones it s already answered 1. He who is the Head of it hath a distinct Body that hath flesh and bones now glorified in which he is the Head 2. The members also that are living on the earth have each their distinct personal bodies that have flesh and bones yea they are yet partakers of flesh and blood in weaknesse and mortality and their bodies vile Phil. 3. 21. Rom. 8. 10. 23. Heb. 2. 14. If yet further any Querie whether this Body be in Heaven it is likewise already answered The Head who is their forerunner is already entered and so they in him as in their head and with him by the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him he saith not them his own personal Body not theirs from the dead see Col. 2. 12. with Ephes 1. 20 21 22. and Chap. 2. 6. Heb. 6 19 20. with Chap. 4. 3. But they in their particular bodies are not so entered but while at home
us or with any that know and believe the Scriptures but they imply That if Adam was under a covenant of works do this and live then he should not have lived when he was in innocency till he had done some thing to merit life Rep. The mistake of this is shewed above in that that covenant was not for the first giving but for the continuance of his life in the favour of God and that though he could not merit by any works and obedience was to be continued upon his working that that was good sinlesly otherwise he was to die as appeared in that he lost it by his sinning and fell under death from which that covenant afforded no Redemption as the covenant in Christ doth so that we have not spoken ignorantly as they charge us but the ignorance is found with them that confound what covenant Adam was under with what was given to the people of Israel for convincement of their sin when fallen The covenant of works or Law as given to fallen man in the hand of a Mediator entred because of transgression till the seed came and so was given with subordination to the covenant of grace even the grace of God in the Redeemer from the fall and the death that came by sin as the naturall death also did though they erroneously imply the contrary and no marvaile for if that death be by sin then there must be a Redemption out of that death and so a Resurrection of the body from it which seeing they deny how can they grant it comes in by sin and that the seed should Redeem the creature out of it So that herein also their iniquity and corrupt judgement is seen and the root of their deniall that the naturall death came in by sin namely their deniall of the Redemption by Christ from that death and so the Resurrection of the body from it as after will more appear so that here Reader we have a complication of errours in them Thus much to their defence of their first errour about their sinlesness let us see how they defend their second Our second charge of them was about the personall body of Christ in which he suffered which that it is ascended into Heaven the Heavens without all men and above the clouds opposed to the visible earth we say they would not be brought to acknowledge touching which whether we questioned severall times altering our words as they charge us let them judge that read our book But they say W. and F. We contradict our selves because we say that they said the same body that suffered was glorified at Gods right hand in heaven Rep. Nay not unless by that body and that Heaven we say they meant as we expressed in our question which we said they did not and they in their book clearly manifest the truth of what we therein said so that it 's but another falshood added to the former to say that we are stifled in our own confusion and another yet to say that we charge them ignorantly with what they meant for here they plainly say W. and F. It appears we hold Christ hath two bodies in telling of a mysticall body and not receiving that as in answer that his body is the Church the fulness of him that filleth all in all and in that from our words they say we would have Christ to have a body besides or distinct from the fulness of God when as the Scripture doth not say that Christ hath two bodies or that his body is a body of flesh and bones without the blood in it as they say we told them Rep. See here Reader did we ignorantly charge them that by the body they said was glorified in Heaven they meant his Church do not they here speak it out while they tax us with holding Christ hath two bodies because we say he hath his personall body in which he suffered and which he shewed to have flesh and bones in it as a Spirit hath not And is it more absurd for Christ to have in two senses a body or two bodies in different senses of the word body then for the believer to have two heads in two distinct senses hath not George Whitehead and the rest each of them their personall head in which they have tongues with which they smite them that are more righteous then themselves And if they were believers in truth should they not have Christ for their head too And why then may not Christ have a body of his own as a man the man Christ Jesus in which he shewed his Disciples flesh and bones and yet have a body mysticall or body signifying a Church society or congregation as he is the Ruler and Governour of them and in them by his Spirit And doth not the Scripture set forth both these to us as distinct bodies though those very words two bodies it hath not was it his body the Church in which he shewed his Disciples his flesh and bones hands and feet that were pierced with Nailes and in which he bare our sins on the tree And was it his personal body for which Paul filled up the remainder of the sufferings Col. 1. 24. Is there not expresly the body of his flesh mentioned Col. 1. 22. In which he reconciled us to God his now glorious body in the Heavens to which the body of his Church is to be fashioned into the likeness of it Phil. 3. 20. 21. And the body his Church Col. 1. 24. See here how these men broadly deny Christ as man and onely make him a Spirit filling the Church and so the Spirit and the Church to be Christ and is not that all the Christ they confess now to be And whereas they say we would have Christ to have a body besides and distinct from the fulness of God Col. 2. 9. We say we acknowledge a body in which dwells the fulness of the Godhead which we say is distinct from the fulness of the Godhead that dwells in it and is distinct too from the Church the fulness it is not said of God as God but of him that filleth all in all that is of Christ as Mediator in the power of God Ephes 4. 9 10. Yet that his body is a body of flesh and bones in Heaven without blood in it we determined not but that that body of flesh and bones or in which he shewed his Disciples flesh and bones is ascâ—nded up into Heaven and he as in it is glorified against which they reason thâ—â— W. and F. It 's not proper to say a body of flesh and bones is in the Heavens as if it were in many places at once for Heavens are more then one a silly reason for by that reason it 's not proper to say a body of flesh and bones is in the waters or a stone sinks in the waters for waters are more then one Heaven and Heavens are indifferently used in the Singular or Plurall number as water and waters be as we