Gospel Truths SCRIPTURALLY ASSERTED IN ANSWER TO Joseph Hallett's Twenty Seven QUERIES Search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye might have Life John 5. 39. 40. Come unto me all ye that Labour and are heavy Laden and I will give you Rest take my Yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Heart and you shall find Rest unto your Souls Matth. 11. 28 29. By John Gannacliff and Joseph Nott. Printed and Sold by T. Sowle at the Crooked-Billet in Holywell Lane in Shoreditch 1692. Gospel Truths Scripturally asserted c. The PREFACE NOw by this the Reader may know that we lately received twenty seven Queries with Josph Halletts Name to them Preacher amongst the Presbyterians in Exon who in his Introduction saith That these kind of People commonly called Quakers are said to hold many pernitious and dangerous Doctrines no way agreeable to the Truth as 't is taught by Jesus Now we shall answer thus That those that say these afore-mentioned things of us cannot prove them for they are not true for we hold nothing contrary to the Truth for our Doctrine is neither pernitious nor dangerous but according to the holy Scriptures of Truth as it may farther appear in the Answers to the afore-mentioned Queries The Queriest seems not Ingenious nor Charitable in prejudicially pre-supposing that doubtful ambiguous prevaricating shuffling absurd and cloudy Expressions or Answers may be given to his Questions which becomes not one pretending to Query for Information but gives us occasion to question Whether he 'l ingeniously accept our plain and sincere Answers though therein we are truly Conscientious towards God Query 1 st I would desire them to resolve me what the Light within is of which they talk and write so much and that they would give me a plain Description of it Answer THis Light within of which we talk and write so much is Heavenly and Divine for it is the Light of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour as may be proved by the holy Scriptures of Truth for the Lord speaking by the Prophet Isaiah of Christ saith I the Lord have called thee in Righteousness and will hold thine Hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles Isa 42. 6. And in Chap. 49. 6. the Lord speaks by the same Prophet again of Christ and saith I will also give thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou mayst be my Salvation unto the Ends of the Earth And Simeon that Just and devout Man took the Child Jesus up in his Arms and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all People a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel Luk. 2. 25 27 28 29 30 31 32. And Jesus Christ bears Testimony of himself saying I am the Light of the World he that follows me shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life John 8. 12. And the Apostle John bears Testimony of Christ and saith In him was Life and the Life was the Light of mâ—n and the Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not There was a Man sent from God whose Name was John the same came for a Witness to bear Witness of the Light that all men through him might believe mark he was not that Light to wit John but was sent to bear Witness of that Light that was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 4 5 6 7 8 9. And the Apostle Paul spake of this Light and said God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ But we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. Well then This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds are Evil John 3. 19. And now indeed we may say we do greatly admire at the Ignorance of Joseph Hallett concerning the Light seeing he is a pretended Minister of Christ But let him pretend to what he will he appears to be a Minister of Antichrist and of those that rebel against the Light and know not the Ways thereof nor abide in the Paths thereof Job 24. 13. Query 2. Do the Quakers believe that there are Three in One or that there is a Trinity the Father the Son and the holy Ghost and that these three are but one God in Essence and Nature Answ We do most certainly believe as it is recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth That there are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one 1 John 5. 7. And Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer saith I and my Father are one John 10. 30. And this we most certainly believe Query 3. Whether they esteem the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the written Word Will or Mind of God and to be the only Rule of Faith Worship and Manners Or whether the Light within be a higher or superiour Rule to which we must more especially attend in all matters of Doctrine Worship and Conversation Answ We esteem the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration to contain Words of God and a True Declaration of the Will and Mind of God and of the Word and only Rule of Faith and Worship c. and therefore the holy Spirit divine Inspiration and Light as preferred to and higher than the Scriptures or Writings Anti-Query 1. Where do the holy Scriptures call themselves the written Word Will or Mind of God 2. How can they be or contain his Will or Mind which is essential to himself 3. Where do the holy Scriptures so call themselves the Only Rule of Faith Worship and Manners 4. They who so hold and cannot prove the affâ—rmative by Scriptures is not their Faith greatly defective as to this great Article of their Faith namely in their believing that the Scriptures are the Only Rule of there Faith and yet cannot prove they are so by plain Scriptures 5. What mean the Words Only Rulâ— of Faith c. Do they not either mean Only by way of Emmence or higher or superiour to all other or only as the sole Rule exclusive of all other which to affirm of Scriptures is to exclude the Spirit 6. But if the holy Spirit be included in the Only Rule of Faith how can it be properly or truly said of the Scriptures that they are the only Rule of Faith and yet have no Scripture that saith they are so Now this we do
and manifest God's forbearance in order to reconcile Mankind and obtain Redemption for all 6. And did not Christ dye for all Men tasted Death for every Man Qu. 9. Whether Christ has not a Body in Heaven now And whether he continues not to be a Man as well as God still Answ Yea to both we do believe that Christ has a Body and that he is in Heaven and that he continues to be the Heavenly Man as well as God still Glorified with the same Glory that he had with the Father before the World was according as he Prayed John 17. 5. Qu. 10. Whether Christ doth not now Intercede with the Father for Holy Souls in Heaven And if so what this Intercession is Answ This Query appears Unlearned and Unscriptural where does the Scripture say that Christ doth now Intercede for Holy Souls in Heaven and for what end Though he be in Heaven Intercessor and Mediator for Mankind or Souls on Earth Now this we do believe that there is one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus for the Apostle speaking concerning Christ saith He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever Liveth to make Intercession for them Heb. 7. 25. Christ doth not only make Intercession for Sinners that their Sins may be forgiven them but for them also that are delivered from Sin that they may be preserved out of Sin and that they may be where he is as is evident from Christ's Words for he saith I pray not that thou shouldâ—st take them out of the World but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil And he farther saith Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me John 17. 15. 24. And this is the Intercession which Christ makes for his People which is according to the Will of God Qu. 11. Whether Christ will not at the last Day at the Dissolution of the World come to Judge the whole World appearing in his Manhood pronouncing the Wicked Accursed and the Holy Blessed Answ The Lord Jesus Christ will Judge the World in Righteousness and reward every Man according to his Works the Wicked Accursed the Righteous Blessed Acts 10. 42. He commanded us to wit Christ to testifie that it was He that was Ordained of God to be Judge both of Quick and Dead because he hath appointed a Day in which he will Judge the World in Righteousness by that Man of which he hath given Assurance to all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead See Acts the 17. and 31. And we have this Assurance and do believe that at the last Day the Man Christ shall come in his Glory to Judge all People according to his own Testimony for he saith When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory and all the holy Angels with him Then shall he set upon the Throne of his Glory and before him shall be Gathered all Nations and he shall Separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goates and he shall set the Sheep on his Right hand but the Goates on the Left Then shall the King say unto them on his Right Hand Come ye Blessed of my Father Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World And then shall he say also unto them on the Left Hand Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Matth. 25. 31 32 33 34 41. Qu. 12. Whether the Rule according to which the Judge will proceed in Judging of Persons at that Day will be the Light within or the Gospel of Christ Answ This Query is unlearned and unscriptural the Gospel of Christ and his Light within are inseparable and not divided According to which Gospel and Light he will Judge the Secrets of Men yea the whole World in Righteousness The Gospel of Christ thou seemest to be Ignorant of who art Ignorant of the Light and Spirit of which Paul said he was made an able Minister not of the Letter but of the Spirit which gives Life And the Gospel is the Power of God to Salvation and Life and Immortality is brought to Light by the Gospel and we who have received it can Bles the Lord for it And Christ saith This is the Condemnation of the World that Light is come into the World But Men Love Darkness rather then Light because their deeds are Evil. Qu. 13. Whether now in the times of the Gospel there ought not to be a Mininistry that is whether some particular Persons ought not to be appointed and set apart solemnly for the Preaching of the Gospel and the Administration of Baptisme and the Lord's Supper And whether such Ministers ought not to have an Allowed Maintenance from the People Ans Here are several Questions in cluded in this Query To the first Yea there is and Ought to be a Gospel Ministry in this Gospel-Day 2. Such Ministry as is appointed and called by Christ 3. To Preach the Gospel 4. Such a Ministry may be without having a Commission to Baptize with Water any more then Paul had 5. Not Commissionated to Administer the Lords Supper in the Sign and Figure but to turn People to Christ Jesus that he may Administer it in the Substance that is the Bread of Life and Cup of Blessing at his Table in his Kingdom which is the Substance 6. Such Ministers Preach the Gospel freely not for either set or forced Maintenance and yet to have their necessities freely relieved when in Want Ministers of Christ we own that Turn People from Darkness to Light and from Satans Power to the Power of God which is the Gospel and none can preach the Doctrine of Faith Grace Conversion and Spirit truly without the Light of Christ which shineth in the Heart and giveth the knowledge of them and the true Ministers and Gospel they received was not of man nor by man but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ They received it freely and preach'd it freely We do not read that they agreed with any People for a settle'd Maintenance as is now practiced and they were careful not to make the Gospel chargeable to any and wrought with their Hands many times to avoid it a thing you were never brought up unto neither did they make a Merchandize of the Word as many of you do of their Words So you may see what Ministers such are who are seeking their Gain from their Quarter Qu. 14. Whether it be lawful now in these Gospel-times for Women to Speak or Preach in publick Assemblies for the publick Instruction of others Answ Yea for Women divinely Inspired when called thereunto and we do believe that it is as Lawful now for Women to Preach as it was in former Ages there were Prophetesses both in the time of the Law and Prophets and in the Apostles dayes for
days hence Acts 1. 5. And we do believe that this Baptism is alone needful unto Salvation to wit the Baptism of the Holy Ghost seeing the Baptism is but one that is necessary as is proved before And this is the Baptism that the Apostle Paul spake of when he said By one Spirit are we all Baptized in to one Body 1 Cor. 12. 13. Mark Christ said Ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost And the Apostle Paul said By one Spirit are we all Baptized Now this was no Water-Baptism for it was done by the Spirit of God and not with Water by Man And the Apostle further said As many of you as have been Baptized unto Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3. 27. Now they that have put on Christ are in Christ And if any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. And now that which we do desire of People every where is that they will turn in their minds unto the gift of Gods Spirit in their own Hearts and wait to be made a new by it Qu. 20. Whether the Lord's Supper as to its Administration and Participation be not a Duty still incumbent upon Christians in these Days that is whether Persons ought not to take Real Bread and eat it and Real Wine and drink it in Remembrance of the Death of Christ Jesus Answ Not incumbent in the Type or Figure but in the Substance or Antitype Antiquery 1. Where proves the Queriest that the Lord's Supper in this Gospel-day consists of eating outward Bread or drinking outward Wine 2. What was really the Lords Supper in the Figure and what in the Substance or Mystery 3. Were not the outward Bread and Cup typical or figurative of the Spiritual Meat and Drink 4. What Commemoration of him or his Death by outward Sign is comparable to his own inward Spiritual coming and appearance See the first Epistle of John Chap 5. 20 But we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an Vnderstanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true This is the true God and Eternal Life and we are Witnesses of his Second coming without Sin unto Salvation and we eat his Flesh and drink his Blood by which we have Life John 6. 56 57 As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me shall live by me But the Jews it is said strove among themselves saying How can this man give us his Flesh to eat The Apostle Paul tells us There were them that did eat and drink unworthily not discerning the Lord's Body and what that Body was some did eat Must not the Lord's Body be discerned by true Believers Rev. 3. 20. Christ saith Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any one hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him and Sup with him and he with me And this Supper is not outward And the Lord said by his Prophet He would make unto all People in his holy Mountain a Feast of fat things And the Apostle Paul saith in Cor. 10. 14 15 16 17. Wherefore my dearly Beloved flee from Idolatry I speak as to Wise men judge ye what I say The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ For we being many are one Bread and one Body For we are partakers of that one Bread and the Bread of God is he that comes down from Heaven and gives Life to the World This was the Saints Food in all Ages But of this Spiritual Food and Communion thâ—u art ignorant who art ignorant of the Light in which the Saints fellowship was and is and such as walk in it have and do know the Blood of Christ cleansing them from all Sin so that the Substance being witnessed to such here is no need of outward Signs to put them in Remembrance and this the Apostle Paul laboured to know the Power of his Death and the Vertue of his Resurrection Qu. 21. Whether any of the Sons or Daughters of Adam are able to attain to a Sinless Perfection in this Life Answ Yea by the Power of Christ and not of themselves The Work of the Ministry is for the perfecting of the Saints Ephes 4. 11 12 13. And although we say as the Scriptures testifie It is attainable yet not without great Diligence and Watchfulness to the Power of God And the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 1. 3 4 writing to the Saints saith Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead to an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you who are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation which is prepared to be shewed in the last Times The Power of God is greater to keep out of Sin then the power of Satan to lead into Sin So said Christ Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the World But this Perfection spoken of admits of degrees and a growth as a Child when born if compleat in all its Parts and Members is said to be a perfect Child so it is in the new Birth he that is born of the Spirit and lives up to the Manifestations of it may be said to be perfect in kind and yet there may be a growth still John writes to Little Children whose Sins were forgiven them for his Names sake as also he writes to Young Men because they had overcome the Wicked One and to Fathers because they had know him that was from the beginning And the Apostle preacht Wisdom among them that are perfect but not the Wisdom of this World which denyeth it But God Christ and the Apostles exhort unto it Job was said to be a perfect man And Paul was crucified to the World and the World to him and Christ lived in him And the Life saith he I now live is by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me And he had faught a good Fight finished his Course and kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me said he a Crown of Righteousness Qu. 22. Whether the Quakers expect to be saved with a Christ within them or a Christ without them Answ This is an Unlearned and Unscriptural Question They profess not two Christs but the one very Christ of God within them and without them according to holy Scriptures That Christ we expect Salvation by is both within and without as hath been sufficiently expressed how he suffered for Sin the Just for the Unjust and he died and rose again that he might be Lord of quick and dead and that those that live might not live unto themselve but unto him that died for them