Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him who is over all God blessed forever Amen Col. 1. 16. Rom. 9. 5. These together with the Testimonies Jesus gave of himself Iohn 8. 38. Verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am John 10. 30. I and my Father are one John 15. 5. there he Prayes And now Oh Father glorifie thou me with thine own self and with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was In like manner he speaks of his own Eternity Proverbs 8. chap. from the 23d to the end to which agrees that application given to him of wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Isa. 9. 6. These things I say the Quakers believing according as they are written and having an experience of in themselves by the effectual working of the mighty Power of Christ Jesus in their Hearts are sufficient proofs to them of his Divine substance and also to make them see what is the Fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ as 't is written Ephes. 3. 9. Wherefore they know the Son to be one and equal in Power with the Father Now if any shall object that Scripture where Christ saith My Father is greater then I. Answ. That must needs be understood only as he assumed the Nature of Man not at all relating to the fulness of the God-head that dwelleth Bodily in him as 't is written Col. 2. 9. So likewise the Author to the Hebrews describes him chap. 1. 2 3. verses To be the brightness of the Fathers Glory and the express Image or Character of his Substance for so the Word Person ought to be rendered by whom also he made the Worlds And therefore I believe and so do they in whose behalf I write that Jesus Christ is very God 3 dly I affirm they do believe that this Jesus or this God was manifest in the Flesh as saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 3. 16. And Iohn the Evangelist Chap. 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth And Paul to the Hebrews chap. 2. 16. speaking of Christ saith For verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels but he took on him the Seed of Abraham 4 thly Therefore in the fourth place I affirm The Quakers do faithfully own this Jesus to be the Mediator according to the Testimony of the Apostle 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Iesus who gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due time 5 thly I affirm they own his obedience also for I know they do believe that Christ Jesus in the dayes of his Flesh was obedient to God as becometh a Son unto a Father in all things For he came not to do his own Will but the Will of him that sent him wherefore we find him Praying to his Father Nor my Will but thine be done Yea moreover 't is written of him Hebrews 5.8 Though he were a Son yet learned he Obedience by the things which he suffered For he was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastizments of our Peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are healed as saith the Prophet Isaiah chap. 53. 3 5. Therefore these do confess to his Sufferings according to the Scriptures for Christ also hath once suffered for Sin the Just for the Unjust that he might bring us to God being put to Death in the Flesh but quickned by the Spirit see 1 Pet. 3. 18. Likewise they own his Death as an acceptable and most satisfactory Sacrifice to God for the Sins of all and is of blessed advantage to all that shall receive Faith in his Blood which agrees to Rom. 3.25 Ephes. 5.2 Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God And he hath given himself for us an offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Also they believe that as Christ dyed for our Sins so he was buried likewise and rose again according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. Again vers 20 21. 't is said But now is Christ risen from the Dead and become the first Fruits of them that Sleep For since by Man came Death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead So in Acts 17. 31. The Apostle mentions this as the assurance which God gave to men of his judging the World at the great Day by his Son Christ Jesus namely his having raised him from the Dead Now 6 thly and Lastly I affirm They do believe that from Christ Jesus these and such like Benefits extend to true Believers First Election in him according as God hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in Love as 't is recorded in Ephes. 1. 4. Mark 'T is in him we are elected not in our selves as though personally some were chosen and others past by but in the Seed Christ the Elect of God the Object of the Father's Love all who are gathered into him are made a chosen Generation an Elect People by the Lord. 2. Vocation this also they own to be a Benefit bestowed on them by the Father in the Son for that they who were by nature Children of Wrath as well as others have been called of God in Christ with an High and Holy Calling to obtain Mercy from him even to become Saints that so they should shew forth the Vertues of him who hath called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light 3. Reconciliation to God as saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 18 19. All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Iesus Christ and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation to wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself So Coll. 1.20,21,22 it s said And having made Peace through the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven and you who were sometimes alienated and Enemies in your Minds by wicked Works yet now hath he reconciled in the Body of his Flesh through Death to present you holy unblameable unreprovable in his Sight 4. Sanctification and Iustification I put both these together because though I do grant they may be distinguished yet I cannot see how they can be divided being so near of kin that if one languish t'other cannot but greatly mourn besides the Apostle is my President in coupling of them
in Chap. 3. Vers. 17. of this Epistle the Apostle gives Caution to whom he wrote saying Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these Things beware lest ye also being led away with the Error of the Wicked fall from your own stedfastness For 't is threatned by the Lord That when the Righteous man turneth away from his Righteousness and commits Iniquities and dyeth in them Mark here is included a Total Fall for his Iniquity that he hath done he shall Dye Ezek. 18. 26. and 33. 13. Wherefore we are exhorted to continue in the Grace of God and to keep our selves in the Love of God because of the danger that there is of falling from this Grace for 't is those that endure to the End that shall be saved these are Christ's own words in Mat. 16. 26. Mark 13. 13. 'T is to those that are faithful unto Death to whom is promised a Crown of Life Rev. 2. 10. Such as are implanted into Christ and abide in him they shall inherit the Kingdom For if a man abide not in me saith Christ he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered John 15. 6. And in vers 10. he tells them If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Father's Commandments and abide in his Love Thereby signifying that if we keep not his Commandments neither shall we abide in his Love so then if we abide not in that which keeps us in the Love of God we cannot abide in God for God is Love 1 John 4. 16. See Reader here is a whole Cloud of Witnesses bearing Testimony that'tis Possible if there be not a diligent watching for People to fail of or rather fall from that measure of the true Grace of God which was once given to them Therefore what the Quakers hold in this Point is no New Doctrine For if this could not possibly be how could any do Despight unto the Spirit of Grace or Resist the holy Ghost Yet do this People believe A Christian may come to such a growth and standing in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus from which he cannot fall away according to that Promise in Rev. 3. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the Name of my God and the Name of the City of my God which is New Jerusalem which cometh down from Heaven from my God and will write upon him my New Name And they also believe That such a one may come to be assured that he is in such a state even as the Apostle was who said for I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Heighth nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. CHAP. IX Concerning Perfection VVHich Doctrine though it be firmly founded in Scripture yet is it rejected and set at naught because 't is believed by the Quakers notwithstanding which they freely confess that a perfect Principle they plead for and press the necessity and benefit of man's believing and conformity to it Therefore I ask their Adversaries Is it any Crime to be Perfect To which if they shall answer as in effect they have said This is to be accounted Vile To such my Reply is I hope that the Lord will inable his People to become and be contented to be counted more Vile For to this Abraham was commanded by God under the Old Testament as 't is written Gen. 17. 1. The Lord appeared unto Abraham saying I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect And to this we are commanded by Christ under the New whose words are thus Recorded Mat. 5. 48. Be ye therefore Perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Nor is it only commanded but also promised see Rom. 6. 14. For Sin shall not have Dominion over you And in 22. 23. verses there we find it experienced for the Apostle speaks of such as were made free from Sin and become Servants to God and had their Fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life For the wages of Sin is Death but the gift of God is eternal Life through Iesus Christ our Lord And in Rom. 8. 2. there Paul speaks his own experience For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death saith he And therefore he exhorts the Corinthians Having these Promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. And in 1 Cor. 2. 6. 'T is said the Apostle spake Wisdom among them that were Perfect and in 2 Cor. 12. 9. the Apostle wishes their Perfection and thus he concludes his Epistle to them in the 11th verse of the same Chapter Finally Brethren farewell be perfect c. And this was it the Apostle Iames desired viz. that those to whom he wrote might be perfect and intire lacking nothing Iames 1. 5. For it was the end of the Apostles Ministry that they might present every man Perfect in Christ Jesus labouring servently in Prayer for them that they might stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God And in behalf of the Thessalonians Paul prayeth That the very God of Peace would sanctifie them wholly that their whole Spirit Soul and Body might be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Thessal 5. 23. And we find the Apostle Peter making the same Supplication even that the God of all Grace would make them perfect 1 Pet. 5.10 This being the very end for which God appointed Teachers in his Church as 't is written Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Yea this seems to be the end of Christs giving himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blame see Ephes. 5. 26 27. Therefore those that deny Perfection to be attainable by the Lords People do in effect deny Christ the one Offering For by one Offering he hath perfected forever them that are Sanctified as faith the Apostle Heb. 10. 14. Wherefore saith Iohn Whoso is Born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is born of God 1 John
things were written afore time were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope as 't is recorded Rom. 15. 4. So that it appears the Scriptures are owned of them and are believed by them and are practiced amongst them but they dare not ascribe them that Glory which is due to God nor exalt them above his Son Christ Jesus nor prefer them in his Spirit 's stead neither yet is it any Derogation from the Scriptures to exalt Christ and his Spirit more than they for Scriptures themselves exalt Christ and the Spirit above themselves so that it is not in any slight or disrespect they have to those holy Writings wherefore they do not call them the Word and the Rule of Faith and Life but as they have declared 'T is from that reverend regard they owe and ought to bear to Christ Jesus the great and eminent Word of God to whose Spirit all Scripture Directions in Matters of Salvation refer us as to an Infallible Rule and Guide They direct us thereunto that we may not live in them but in him who is the Author and Dispenser of them Thus though the Scriptures are granted to be a Righteous Rule and of Divine Dispensation for the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost even as the Apostle testified 2 Pet. 1. 21. and my Soul praises the Lord that he hath preserved the Records of so many Prophecies and Testimonies of his primitive Servants through so many Contingencies unto this present Age yet can I not think that the God of infinite Wisdom and Grace whose Mercy is over all his Works would leave Mankind in so great a Concern whereon their Eternal Salvation is depending to such a Rule alone for Guidance therein as is subject to concealing Mis-translation Mis-interpretation False Application as we find the Scriptures have been by Corrupters of them Muchless can I believe that he would suffer the greatest part of the World to live without them as they do were there no other means appointed for their Salvation Yea moreover I am very sensible that where the Scriptures are many occurrances may fall out in the course of our Lives about which the Scripture gives no particular Advice and yet it is necessary we should have a Guide near in all our Affairs But I well know many Cases there are where Scripture is altogether silent in the matter Admit then here that the Creature in such a streight not knowing what to do betake it self to inquire of the Lord by Prayer alas what will that avail unless it receive an Answer which is already granted not to be found in Scripture neither can it now he had by the meer Literal Priesthood nor by their pretended Vrim and Thummim and say they who cry up solely Scripture to be the Rule of Faith and Life Neither must we expect Answer by Dream nor yet by Vision no nor by Revelation nor Inspiration for these say they are craft many Ages past Whom I ask What way then can the Creature come by Advice which till they can resolve me in I shall still retain my Opinion viz. That that inward Oracle which is a Measure of God's Spirit whereby we obtain access to him with Answer and Direction from him in all our Concerns about which we inquire of him undeniably is of greater Authority both to beget living Faith and order us therein and a more perfect Rule to guide our Lives than the outward Writings of the Scriptures which in many things leave us without either Counsel or Instruction And here I shall leave this Point which is in answer to an Accusation which is That we deny the Scriptures a thing often charged upon but never proved against the People called Quakers CHAP. II. Concerning the Humanity of Christ c. A Second Charge which I have heard brought in against the Quakers is That they deny the Humanity of Christ Iesus and the Obedience that he yielded in the dayes of his Flesh by his Sufferings Death Buriel Resurrection from the Dead together with all the benefits that thereby accrue unto Believers as also Iustification by Faith and the imputed Righteousness of Christ. Now that this hath been as falsly charged upon them as the former I shall undertake to prove by Scripture But first let me mind the Reader this I have observed viz. That there are many that have born false Witness against them yet they do not seem to accord in their Witness For first comes out a learned Doctor and he declares publickly though somewhat ambiguously that this People deny that Christ which dyed at Ierusalem to be God equal with the Father But when this was refuted so as not to be believed then comes out another and he would give the World to know as if they only deny the Son of God to have assumed Humane or man's Nature Thus their accusers contradict one another for both seem to grant we own a Christ which well they may do since they differ in Principles amongst themselves how ever they agree thus far like Herod and Pilate to unite against Jesus so have they against his Followers but I need not enlarge upon particulars since rather then they will want a Host to go out against the Quakers look but into the Muster and thou mayst see One and Twenty Divines as they give themselves the Stile enter the Lift together of whom I shall say no more here lest it should be taken for a Digression from the Answer 1 st Therefore to clear Truth from Slander both on the one hand and the other I do in the first place affirm and that upon certain Grounds viz. That all who may be rightly denominated Quakers such as Tremble at the Word of God they are of the Faith of one Substance which the ancient Christians so earnestly contented for and suffered such hard things in maintaining to wit that Christ the blessed Son of God as to his Divinity was of the same Eternal substance with the Father as may be read at large in George Bishop's Looking glass for the Times pag. 85 86. 2 dly I affirm they faithfully own the Scriptures And therefore what Iohn the Divine saw in his Revelations concerning him as 't is Recorded chap. 13.8 That he to wit Christ was the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World And what the Apostle said of him Phil. 2. 6. Who being in the Form of God thought it no Robbery to be equal with God Likewise Iohn the Evangelist in his first chapter 1.2 3. saith concerning Christ In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made for by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Visible and
Latitude of that Sin-pleasing Principle to which it is stretched as if men might be imputatively Holy though not inwardly Holy and imputatively Righteous though not really Righteous therefore they are clamoured upon as if they denyed the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness when it is only to those who are not made Righteous by it to walk as he walked For the Scripture doth not say that he that saith he is Righteous by the imputation of Christ's Righteousness but he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous 1 John 3. 7. What then shall we Sin and yet think to be saved by the imputed Righteousness of Christ because we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid that we should Sin in this state of Grace saith the Apostle Rom. 6. 15. Indeed the whole Chapter speaks the same sence viz. that it is not our Imputation or reckoning of Christ's Righteousness to our selves will justifie us but he imparting and imputing it to us and this shall suffice in Answer to the second general Charge against this People in every particular of which may be seen what gross abuses have been cast upon them whereby the envious and ill-affected have sought to cover their Principles with their own perversions and so to make Truth it self become rejected But I shall in the next place speak to those I take to be more moderate and such whom I have sometime found my self much swayed by But since I find it was more by Education and Tradition then any certain evidence I could have of the Truth of that Religion I find my self oblieged to detect those Errors in publick which I have heard divers of them cast upon the People called Quakers in private charitably judging they speak not so much against them out of ill will as ignorance of and unacquaintance with their blameless Principle though this is bad enough for People to speak Evil of things they know not and for such as are divided amongst themselves to joyn together against others as some have confessed to me that though they differ in many particulars yet they all agree in this to set their Seal against the Quakers but who they were I have and shall at present conceal desiring not to expose them but to inform them that so setting before them their Errors and Mistakes some of them at least may see and Repent them wherein they have spoken and done amiss CHAP. III. Touching the Resurrection of the Body of Christ and of the Saints AS concerning the Resurrection of the Body of our blessed Lord Jesus and also the Bodies of Believers this I have been born down in that the Quakers do not own In answer to which though I had something to Reply in their behalf at that season yet I must confess the respect I had to my Friend who affirmed the same made me a little incline to that Perswasion of them But now being better acquainted with their Principle I must needs add that this report is an utter Falshood for they do believe as 't is recorded in the Scriptures that Christ Jesus who descended into the lower parts of the Earth the same ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things and sits now at the Right-Hand of God in his glorious Body and therefore shall the low estates and humbled Body of Believers be made like unto his glorious Body through the working of his mighty Power whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself and then shall this Corruptible put on Incorruption and this Mortallity put on Immortallity and Death it self shall be swallowed up of Victory So here likewise it may be noted how their Adversaries have been disappointed For first it was the design of some to have made Saduces of them by giving out that they deny the Resurrection as it was said of them Acts 23.8 For the Saduces say There is no Resurrection neither Angel nor Spirit Thus some have sought to render these as if at Death they believed Soul and Body were both to be annihilated But when this would not take then they reported that the Body only was that which the Quakers held should never rise again Here Reader thou mayst see how they have been slandered both wayes for they do believe the Resurrection of the Just and of the Unjust the one to Salvation and the other to Condemnation according to the Judgment of the great Day And then shall every Seed have its own Body as saith the Scriptures Acts 24. 15. Iohn 5.29 1 Cor. 15. 38. But because they dare not be so foolishly inquisitive as to ask nor so arrogant in their Minds as to dertermine with that Bodies they shall rise therefore do some say They deny the Resurrection of the Body of Christ and of all that are or shall be dead But this is most falsly charged upon them for they do believe the Resurrection of the Dead for if the Dead rise not they are of all men most miserable What can be a Ballance of an Equal Poix with the Tryals Exercises Afflictions and Persecutions that are their Lot and Portion in this Life short of an Eternal Inheritance and a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Therefore they also believe that every man shall be raised in his own order Christ the First Fruits afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming yea they do believe that the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and that God giveth a Body as it pleaseth him and to every Seed his own Body there is a Natural Body and a Spiritual there are Bodies Terrestrial and Bodies Coelestial wherein they agree with the Testimony of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 23 43 44. which I think is sufficient to give all sober Inquirers full satisfaction herein For as to my own particular I freely do confess it suffices me that God will give unto my Spirit such a Body as it pleases him CHAP. IV. Concerning Original Sin AS to Original Sin in which the Quakers are judged to be of so Dangerous an Opinion without shewing to me what that Opinion was I Answer Though the word Original be not sound in Scripture yet if any mean hereby the inward Corruption and Seed of Sin which Satan hath sown in us and wherewith we are defiled in our first and fallen Nature I am sure this will not be denyed by any true Quaker for they know and believe that in the first Adam all are Sinners but in the second Adam which is the Lord from Heaven we are made Righteous for as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive as 't is written 1 Cor. 15. 22. But though it be granted that by one Man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin and so Death passed upon all Men for that All have sinned even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's Transgression who is the Figure of him that was to come Rom. 5. 12. 14. yet this doth
he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of First Fruits of his Creatures James 1. 18. But since there is a Willing Faculty placed in Man and this Will being corrupted is naturally froward and averse to any thing spiritually Good whereby Man chooseth that wherein the Lord delighteth not and will not hearken to his Counsel nor turn at the Reproofs of Instrustion which are the Way of Life but obstinately pursues the sinful Desires and Lust of the Flesh to his Soul's Ruin and so his Destruction is of himself and God clear of his Blood by the free Tenders of his Grace and strivings of his Spirit within him If this be granted then it will follow if ever Man be saved this stubborn Will most be bowed and subjected and brought into Obedience to the Lord Jesus for 't is the Willing and Obedient to whom the Promise is made Ier. 1. 19. So that Man must come to be freely willing to serve the Lord and to take up the Cross and bear the Yoak of his Son Christ Jesus not only of Necessity but of a Ready Mind And thus now to have the Will sanctified and brought into the pure Obedience of him that sanctifieth it which is an Effect of the free Grace of God here comes the true Freedom of Will to be known even to be made free from Sin being delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God which agrees to that of the Apostle Romans 8. 21. And here as the Truth maketh free man comes to be free indeed and to receive Ability to attend upon the Lord without Distraction and to do his Will on Earth as it is done in Heaven according to that Prayer which our Blessed Saviour taught his Disciples as we read in the sixth Chapter of Matthew After this manner pray ye saith Christ Our Father which art in Heaven hollowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven c. And yet how many are there that will plead for this Plat-form of Prayer who never expect to receive an Answer For say they The Will of God cannot be done perfectly here I grant where the Kingdom of God is not come there his Will can never perfectly be done but where the Kingdom of God is known and witnessed to be within that gives Power and Ability and makes willing to yield Obedience unto his Requirings of us so that here every one according to their several Measures may perfectly perform the Will of their Heavenly Father Yet is here a vast difference between the Natural Freedom of Man's Will which some plead for and the Gracious Freedom thereof maintained by the Quakers for that is quite another thing to what hath been slanderously reported of them CHAP. VII Concerning Inherent Righteousness AS touching Inherent Righteousnes as a Righteousness of Self is intended a thing wherein this People have been falsly as well as foully aspersed it having been given out concerning them viz. That hereby they expect to merit Heaven Now seeing the Truth struck at with such a Soul-mrudering Weapon as this makes me like Cresus his dumb Son to speak What! can their Adversaries wrongfully reproach them with nothing less then laying waste the very Foundation of the Christian Faith which stands in submitting to the Righteousness of Jesus Christ and not in establishing any Righteousness of our own as inherent in us and of our selves But be it known to the World though it hath been reported that the Quakers hold this dangerous Tenet yet the report will not hold true when it comes to be examined For although I have heard others often charge it upon them yet I never could find the person that durst say this was their own Confession viz That upon the account of Inherent or Self-Righteousness they expect Salvation but if we will take the Confessions of those that are so forward to make Confessions for others we may then believe the Quakers are as bad as they are pleased to render them to us but we must not take things upon trust but hear both parties if we will be ingenuous no Reader they have no such expectation far are such thoughts from them For though they do reckon a man must be made inwardly Righteous by the power of Christ that is meet for the Kingdom of Heaven I think this amounts to no more then what I have heard asserted by a Teacher of your own viz. That God freely bestows his Grace upon Men and Women and afterwards rewards his own Grace in his own Children which Words plainly imply the Grace of God to be free to all and to be tendered within which whoso accepts thereof to be led by the same do thereby receive the Spirit of Adoption and so come to obtain the reward of Children which is a part in their Fathers Kingdom and this indeed is according to the Quakers Principle for they know right-well Gods Grace is Universal a proser whereof he maketh unto all by which they might be made a Righteous people and in it come to enjoy Salvation Therefore they believe that inward Righteousness is wrought by Virtue of the Grace of God and is a necessary qualification to fit man for Glory which makes them choose with the Apostle rather then talk of the Righteousness of Faith to shew forth their Faith by their Works yet do they not expect to be saved neither for their Faith alone nor by their Works but by Christ who worketh true Faith For 't is not Works of Righteousness as done by them not only as Inherent in them by which they expect to be accepted of God and justified before him but by and through Christ Jesus the Author and Worker of those acts in them and for them whereby they know that they are in him and he in them and they hold him as their Head into whom all things are gathered together in one even in him How comes it about then it may be asked that this report has spread so far concerning them Why truly Reader if I may give in my Answer it must be this he who was an Enemy to all Righteousness ever since the beginning seeing the Faithful among this People not only Nominally but really Righteous throughout their Conversation he hath been so inraged against them that he hath not spared any pains to put on his Instruments to Reproach and Vilifie them Therefore have they been masked with the most affrighting Vizards of Self-Righteousness and Self-Sufficiency to bring about their own Salvation that if possible he might fright People from having any converse amongst them but notwithstanding the Wrath of the Adversary their Innocency will appear with its open Face for the time is now a hasting wherein it will be seen who are but Nominally and who are really Righteous Bear with me my Friends to whom I dedicate this little Tract For though I rank'd this point amongst the
let them read Rom. 8. 11. and they will find the Apostle speaking expresly If the Spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Therefore as I said before 't is no Arrogancy for the People of God to own that they have the Spirit of God dwelling in them for 't is not the Light of Nature nor the Dictates of a Natural Conscience but a Spiritual Divine Principle by which Men and Women are raised from the Death of Sin to serve God in Newness of Life and Obedience of Conversation No Reader let me tell thee Nothing Natural will or can reach so far Nature cannot change Nature it must be a higher Power that can cause to put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is Corrupt according to Deceitful Lusts by renewing the Spirit of the Mind so as to cause us to put on the New Man Christ Jesus which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness and so Old Things are made to pass away behold all things are become New Lo here is a New Creature as there is a putting off the Old Man with his Deeds there is a passing away of the first Heavens and the first Earth and then behold New Heavens and a New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness as there is a coming to this Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which Law is inward written in the Heart and Engraven on the Inward Parts there is a setting Free from the Law of Sin and Death And so we come to know a Blotting out of the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances which was against us and contrary to us our Lord having taken them and nailed them to his Cross. And thus He that believeth in the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God unto Salvation hath a Witness in himself the Spirit it self beareth them Witness that they are the Children of God according to that in 1 Iohn 5.10 Rom. 8.16 And as they continue in the Faith they come to be sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise and to set to their Seals that God is True For Faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it he hath promised to redeem us from all Iniquity wherefore let us hope in his Word and not grieve his holy Spirit whereby we are sealed unto the Day of our compleat Redemption according to the Apostle's Advice Ephes. 4. 30. O! let us take heed that we do not vex and quench the Spirit of Christ within us that so we be not of those complained of by Nehemiah To whom the Lord gave his good Spirit but they rebelled against it And what then so he became their Enemy and fought against them These were such of whom Iob speaks Chap. 24. 13. saying They are of those that rebel against the Light the Light and Spirit here spoken of being one in Being and not divided but distinguished only in degrees of Discoveries for this Spirit is a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ which openeth and enlighteneth the Eye of the Vnderstanding and giveth to know what is the Hope of the Calling of Christ Iesus and what is the Riches of the Glory of his inheritance in the Saints according to the Apostle's Prayer to God for the Ephesians Chap. 1. 17 18. And this was it that Christ promised when he was about to leave his Disciples as to his Personal presence amongst them at which their Hearts began to be sorrowful he therefore tells them to comfort them he that dwelleth with you shall be in you John 14. 17. Thereby he meant himself who then was present with but passing from them in the Flesh would come again unto them and abide forever with them in the Spirit For the Lord is that Spirit saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 3. 17. Wherefore he bids them Examine themselves whether they be in the Faith Prove your own selves saith he know you not your own selves how that Christ is in you Except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. And hereby know we that we are not in a Reprobate state because we witness the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us For this Principle of which I write 't is the Unction which we have received from the holy One whereby we know all things that is this doth instruct us in all things that are necessary to be known by us For 't is that spiritual anointing that the Apostle Iohn speaks of which those who have received it and in whom it abides need not that any man teach them but as the same anointing teacheth them all things and is Truth and is no Lye even as it hath taught them they should abide in him 1 John 2. 14. that is in Christ Jesus from whom this anointing doth come Now whoso is taught by this Anointing the same is taught by God as it is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me saith Christ Iohn 6.45 For this was the Promise of the Father even the new Covenant which he made with the House of Israel After those Dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their Minds and write them in their Hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest Ier. 31. 33 34. This being the Tennure of the New Covenant That all the Children of the Lord shall be taught of the Lord and in Righteousness shall they be established Isa. 54. 13 14. Which implies that God will teach them so effectually by his Free Spirit that they shall not stand in need of any other Prophet But here I must obviate an Objection before I can proceed Possibly some may ask me Why then do those People that thou art now gone amongst keep up their Publick Meetings to Preach and to Teach People the Way of Salvation What need is there of their Teaching if every one hath a Teacher in them able to Instruct them in the Way to the Kingdom To whom I Answer First Though I did say as much as that every one hath a Divine Teacher in them yet I did not say that every one knows this Teacher in them For this hath been the Misery of many Ages of the World People have gone out after the many Lo here 's and Lo there 's to find Christ without them in the mean time neglecting his Appearance within them even as was foretold by Christ himself when he was on Earth in the days of his Flesh In the Last Dayes saith he they shall say Lo here is Christ and Lo he is there but go ye not out after
his Death who tasted Death for every man And so we do freely confess all that is derived to us to be in and by Christ Jesus as Mediator unto whom we ascribe all acknowledging him to be our Head in whom all Fulness dwells So that this Light with which all men are in some measure enlightned of God 't is no other but a measure of that Divine Fulness that dwelt in the Son of his Love when he was hear on Earth and now dwelleth in him since he is ascended up to Heaven where he was before whence he descends the streams thereof into the Hearts of all the Children of Men in order to bring them out of the Fall in the First Adam and to redeem them up unto himself the Second Adam that as they have born the Image of the Earthly so they may bear the Image of the Heavenly be restor'd unto that Grace and Favour of God again which by Transgression they are fallen from But First Let me tell thee whoever thou art that reads me This effectual Operation of the Spirit or Principle of God within is not nor cannot be known without a being centred down into the same For this I speak from good Experience the Spirit 's first work is to convince of sin before it effect a Restoration and this it doth even in all though all do not regard it it doth first shew them what is Evil and then it Reproves them when they do Evil which Reproofs if they be despised cause the fierce Anger of the Lord to be kindled and such as despise Wisdoms Reproofs which are the Way of Life while they are so doing they are treasuring up to themselves Wrath against the Day of Wrath and Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God And as ever they would come to know Remission of their Sins and enjoy Peace with the Lord who is hereby justly encensed against them they must submit to bear his Indignation against them that so they may be redeemed through Judgment and brought to unfeigned Repentance and then and not till then shall they know a blotting out of their Transgressions according as 't is written Acts 3. 19. But I say before Remission of Sins comes to be known there must be a centring down into the Manifestation of the Spirit of God within which will bring down every exalted Imagination and every high Thing and lay it Low even to the Ground that so every Thought may be brought into subjection to Jesus Christ And here comes the Terrors of the Lord to be known which causeth Fear and Trembling now doth the Soul exceedingly Fear and Quake under the Sense of the just Wrath of the Almighty who is of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity and whose Jealousie burns like Fire and will so do till it have consumed the Stubble that it meets with in the Heart of the Sinner For he that long offered himself as a Guide is now become a judge in the Conscience of this Creature and his just Judgment against all Unrighteousness must be accomplished True indeed the Opperation of the Word of his Power by which he judgeth is diversly felt and experienced In some 't is as a Hammer to break the Rocks is sunder In others 't is as a Fire to melt down the Dross and separate it from the Silver In all 't is as a Sword to divide Sin and their Souls assunder yea it divideth between the Soul and that sinful Spirit which hath got into it and defiled it Thus the Lord deals with his Creatures as the matter doth require he considers their Nature and Temper and layes no more upon them then he gives them strength to bare For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are but Duft therefore he doth not retain his Anger forever left our Spirits should fail before him and the Souls which he hath made us However all that have sinned must know a Time of Sorrow yea even such who have not so rebelliously despised his Counsel and slighted his Reproofs and cast his Law behind their Backs as some there are which have yet inasmuch as they have at any time not hearkned unto his holy Spirit within them his Judgments will overtake them and in Righteousness will he plead with them and then I know former things will come into their Minds This I write as one having witnessed the Spirit to be given for a Remembrancer which was faithfully promised by the Lord Jesus Iohn 14. 26. even that Spirit of Truth which he told his Disciples it should bring all things to their Remembrance and so indeed it doth call back things that are past and set them in order before us judging condemning of us for what we have done amiss And now a Remnant having heard that in our Hearts that hath told us all things that ever we did we know this to be the Voice of Christ yea the spiritual appearance of the Christ of God For this was he who saw us under the Figg-tree when we had nothing but Leaves to cover us although we saw him not yet did he send and call us to himself that he might cover us with his own Spirit which when we came to be covered with we then saw who it was that cast the skirt of his Love over us and said unto us when we were poluted in our Blood Live And then was the time of his Love even when he stood at the Door of our Hearts and knockt that he might be entertained by us yea and sometimes in the silence of the Night hath he broken in upon us I know it in my own particular when no Creature hath been near this Invisible Oracle hath secretly communed with me reproving of me wherein I had done amiss and shewing me what was right in his sight And at other times in Company thus would the Lord cause his Voice to sound in my Heart THE CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE ARE VAIN by which I was brought off from many of those Vanities which before I had spent Time in and that by the Witness of God in my own Conscience which testified against the same although then I did not understand what it was that did so restrain from sin but now I know it was the Lord that girded me though I knew him not For I well remember when I have been using the common Language of our Country especially if after the now most usual strain this Testimony from God would arise in my Heart against it viz. I will return unto my People a pure Language Whereby I was reproved in my self for using Flattering Speech though such as was and is accounted of by many to be but Civil Language or expressions of common Civility to Persons according to their Quality in which I had such as Care to keep within the Bounds of Verity that I dare assert I did stere as near the compass of Truth-speaking as the Nature of such Speech would couch But since it hath pleased the