what his thoughts are and searcheth the heart who both can and doth spâ—ak what he pleaseth both of things declared in Scriptures and without them as he sees meet to the perticular states of men and persons and so to lay so much upon Scriptures which belongs to God and Christ and is properly their Work is unsound And Whâ—re provest thou the Scriptures search the thoughts And wherâ— say they so of themselves when they do not speak and direct to any perticular Person and shew him his thoughts and actions perticularly which the Light doth And the Spirit of Truth reproves and convinceth of the several evils whereof persons are guilty It s the Lord that sets their sins in order before them Priest It is false That any have a sincere supernatural Faith of the Scriptures that are ignorant of Christ c. They testify of him Answ. So then they must have some knowledg of Christ and from thence have a supernatural Faith of the Scriptures But how doth this agree with much more of thy work about searching the Scriptures for Life Eternal in them for begetting Faith c. Priest The foundation of the Saints and houshold of God are the Phrophets and Apostles Jesus Christ being the cheif corner-stone Eph. 2.20 Answ. Were not the Prophets and Apostles of that houshold of God If they were then they were their own foundation according thy to assertion here but thou hast wronged the Scripture for it was the foundation of the Propheâ—s and Apostles mark of the Prophets and Apostles they were built upon Christ Jesus the cheif corner stone Priest By the Prophets and Apostles that are the foundation is meant their Doctrine contained in the Scriptures not the persons Answ. Their Foundation was before their Doctrine or Scriptures Another foudation can no man lay then that which is already laid which is Christ But sure the Prophets and Apostles and Scriptures were not he Priest The Scripture makes known inward sins of thoughts and lusts Rom 7.7 Is able to makâ— the man of God perfect if they did not search into the thoughts of the heart discovering who are blind and carnal How can they make Wise unto Salvation Doth not the Scriptures make us Wise unto Salvation Therefore Are they not able to save us Christ as the principle cause of our Salvation is said alone to save us Answ. Thou meanest Christ as the principle searcher or the Spirit but the Scriptures as the instrument and then thou shouldest have said Christ makes known inward sins the Spirit searcheth all things And God Judgeth the secrets of men by Christ according to the Gospel without the knowledg of Christ there 's no supernatural faith of the Scriptures nor can any be made Wise unto Salvation but through that Faith And that Christ and the Spirit makes use of speaks and opens things contained in the Scripture many times Who denies that For then he speaks and opens those things immediately and thus the Law was made convincing to Paul not before it came thus and if on that account they be the instrumental cause then its Christ or the Spirit by hâ—s own speaking or teaching and openings that is the searcher and saviour And then it were most proper to lay the stress upon him as the searcher and Saviour and not thus often tell of the Scriptures being the searcher of the thoughts and of having in them Life Eternal lest also that ignorant persons go Idolatrously according to the tendency of much of thy matter to put them in the place of Christ or seek to make them the Saviour seeing that Christ the principle cause of our Salvation as thou confessest is said alone to save us and if he alone save its sufficient people be directed to him for that end for in him all sufficiency is who can now immediately speak matters contained in the Scriptures as well as when they were first given by inspiration And it is the inspiration of the Allmighty that giveth the true understanding without which the right use and end of the Scripture is not known Priest The Scriptures of Truth not I make four Saviours Viz. The ingrafted Word Faith Scriptures Timothy c. Answ. To us there is but one God one Christ one absolute Saviour one Faith c. Priest There is a Faith of the Scriptures that is historical this is not sufficient but this Faith may be of Christ as well and yet they not be saved but who has saving unfeigned Supernatural Faith of Scriptures cannot waâ—t it of Christ. Answ. Well Then this saving Supernatural Faith of Scripture and of Chrâ—st must come fâ—om a Supernatural Light or Christ who is thâ— Light and Author of Faith Priest How shall they believe without a Preacher sent Joh. 20. verse last They must have the Scriptures who have the knowledge of Christ for without this they cannot be kept from hell Answ. Who must send them if there be no immediate Teaching or Revelation now How provest thou thy Call from Scripture and that thou art Comissionated by Christ to Preach Thou shouldest rather have said they must have Christ who truely know the Scriptures and without him they cannot be kept from hell Priest In thâ—se Commandments written is our Life Deut. 30.15 16. Answ. The Word and Commandment was nigh them in their hearts that they might obey it and walk in the Commandments and live see Verses 11 12 13 14 15. how herein thou hast diminished and wrested Scripture and that Word which was nigh in the heart the Apostles preached It doth not say in the Commandments written is your Life Priest But that all Nations have the knowledg of Christ It s in an Enthusiastical Bible c These places He enlightens every man that cometh into the world and hath no respâ—ct of Persons are far wide from this conclusion therefore all have the knowledg of Christ all the Turks Jewes Pagans c. Oh! What monstrous horrid Doctrine c. Answ. It is not our Assertion nor Conclusion that all Nations or People have the knowledg of Christ herein hast thou abused us and our Principle for though he enlightens all they all do not walk in the Light nor believe in it But all Nations and People that come ever to know Christ and be saved must walk in his Light Who is the Way the Truth and the Life Priest Christ as he is God equal with the Father hath planted some Light of a natural conscience in every man of the world Answ. In him was life and the life was the light of men And he was that light which enlighteth every man that comes into the world who is not natural nor his Light that shines from him in the Conscience And God is Light who enlightens the World and gave his good Spirit in the dayes of old to the Rebellious and sent his Son a Light into the World That whosoever believes on him might not perish but have eternal life And here is the power and
for it to be otherwise then an imperfect creature Darknâ—ss Confusion and Contradiction to Truth Pr. The Grace of hope is imperfect Christ is the hope of glory Answ. These are one opposite to another but Christ is perfect who is the Grace and Life of all the Saints Graces Pr. Christs Word was his audible Voice speaking his mind Answ. Other whiles his Word is the Scriptures with thee as if the Scriptures and his audible Voice were both one which if this be true all that read them hear Christs audible Voice Is this Authentick Doctrine But Christs own words shall stand against it for Joh. 8.43 Why do ye not understand my speech even because ye cannot hear my word and we know that who hear the Son heareth the Father also But this is a mistery hid from the Carnal minded who Idolatrously pervert the Scriptures Pr. Though Christ and the Spirit be one yet he is not Christs Word for Christ is not his own word Ans. They that hear Christs Word and receive it receive of his own Virtue and Life in and the words he spake unto his are Spirit and Life thou hast here but cavilled which thou mightest as well have done against several Scriptures and against Johns saying In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God c Pr. I call the Scriptures the Word of God and the Gospel the Word of Reconcilliation The Word of God is distinguished from the Word of Reconcilliation Answ. Other-whiles the Scripture is the Gospel and the Word of God with thee now they are distinct the Word of God distinguished from the Word of Reconcilliation What confusion's here Is not the Word of Reconcilliation Gods God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself Pr. The Gospel are a part of the Scriptures and may be called one with them the Gospel is contained in the Scripture Answ. The Gospel is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes it was preached to Abraham and was before the Scriptures and is everlasting but thou hast spoken blindly here as before for Is the power of God contained in the Scriptures Then all that have the Scriptures have that power in them or from them which is not true Pr. Rom. 16.26 The Preaching of Jesus Christ according to the Revelation of the Mistery which was kept secret since the world began and by the Scriptures of the Gospel according to the Commandment of the Everlasting God made known to all Nations for the obedience of Faith Answ. But thou and such do not so preach Christ nor are so commissionated to preach at the Commandment of the Everlasting God who deny Revelation and his imediate Teaching now and this contradicts much of thy dark stuff for here the Revelation of the Mistery is prefered before the Scriptures and the Preaching according to them was from that Revelation of the Mistery which the Apostles had in them but were the Scriptures that Revelation and kept secret since the world began The Revelation of Christ was the Mistery Christ within the hope of glory a mistery hid from Ages c. How was it by the Scriptures made known to all Nations for the obedience of Faith if in many Nations there be neiâ—her the knowledg of Christ nor Scripture according to thy former And of that Rom. 16.26 which thou sayest is the Scriptures of the Gospel thou hast wronged the Scriptures herein for it is the Scriptures of the Prophets c. Pr. The Gospel and Mistery of Christ is made manifest by the Scriptures of the Prophets preached to all Nations not by a Light within If it were not in the Scriptures How could it be manifest and made known by the Scriptures Answ. If not by the Light within How by the Scripture without it Have all that hear Scripture read or preached the knowledg of the Mistery of Christ without the Light within How then doth the Apostles speak of the Revelation as before Did nor he preach from the Light within or Revelation of the Son in him Gal. 1.16 How ignorant hast thou shewed thy self in this matter Again the Mistery was not made manifest by the Scriptures alone or barely for both Revelation and Preaching is mentioned before and to tell of the Gospel and Mistery being in the Scriptures is as much as to say the power of God or Christ is in the Scriptures Pr. Doth not Mark chap. 1.2 call what he wrot the Gospel Where he saith The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ c. Have you a forehead that cannot blush that tells us that the Gospel is not Scripture What a feared conscience and shameless boldness have ye attained to Answ. It is not from any feared conscience nor shameless boldness for me to assert the Gospel was before the Scripture and if Mark intended his Writing or what he writ to be the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ then it follows that the Gospel of Jesus Christ did not begin before Mark wrot that ReveRevlation and then how doth he mention what was written in the Prophets and tell of the Gospel of Jesus Christ And did not Jesus Christ shew forth his power and preach the Gospel before that of Mark was writ But seeing thou hast taken the liberty both to give thy meanings to Scriptures and pretends to compare one Scripture with another I may have liberty to tell the other Scriptures in this case as in Luke 1.1 he saith Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most truely believed amongst us and ver 3. It seemed good unto me also c. And Act. 1.1 The former Treatise have I made O Theophilus So what they writ it was a Treatise or Declaration of things spoken done and believed and much of which relates to the historical part of things and matters but if the written Declaration Treatise of things or Scripture without be the Gospel then hireling Priests may be silent and let people read them without spending their mony of them for their various meanings traditional Interpretations c. for the Gospel ought not to be added to nor another preached how-be-it there is a difference between true Preaching proceeding from the immediate Spirit and Power of God which Paul was a Minister of and the Scriptures or Writings outward without the Spirit or Life for Paul was not a Minister of the Letter but of the Spirit and New Testament And is not a living Ministry and Voice especially where it lives by vertue of the Power of God from whence it immediatly comes of more force and authority then the Letter or Writings which Scriptures signify Yea I do further affirm that the same Words or Dâ—clarations as immediatly proceeding from the Power or Spirit of God is of more force and effect then the same words would be as spoken onely from Scripture without Deny it you Priests if you can I can in
the Name of the Lord largely demonstrate it against you Pr. The Scripture is Everlasting Viz. what is contained in them Answ. Confusion Are they both one This is like much more Pr. Is not the Gospel written by the Prophets the Scriptures written by them Aâ—sw Thâ—n Marks Writing was not the beginning of it here 's contradiction and error again the Apostle calls them the Scriptures of the Prophets but speaks of the Gospel Revelation and Mistery before see Rom. 16.25 26. where its very plain he makes a distinction between them and the Scripture Pr. I deny any immediate Teaching by God Answ. Then thou deniest God to Teach his people himself when he dwells in them wherein thou hast denied the truth of the Gospel and New Covenant Pr. Christs Immediate Teaching will no way follow for his opening the understanding to know the Scriptures for he doth by the same supernatural influence shine on the understanding and Scriptures Luk. 24.32 Answ. Doth Christ by a Supernatural Influence shine on the understanding and yet deniest thou his immediate Teaching What a Labyrinth of Confusion and Distraction art thou fallen into And it appears without this Supernatural Influence shining on the understanding the Scriptures are not truely known nor opened Pr. That Christ was first known himself or he gave the knowledg of the Scriptures The Apostle Paul Rom. 16 26. denies your consequence Answ. Have any a Supernatural knowledg or faith of the Scriptures who have not a knowledg of Christ It seemes thou hast forgotten thy former words and the Apostle doth not deny my consequence for he had a knowledg of Christ before he Preached him or writ Epistles concerning him and his knowledg of the Son of God was by his Revlation in him besides the very Order Tenour and Matter of the Apostles words cited by thee makes for me against thy self see Rom. 16.25 26. for they run thus Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the Revelation of the mistery which was kept secret since the world began But now is made manifest and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God made known to all nations for the obedience of faith c. this thou mayest peruse again to thy owne contradiction Pr. The Cause indeed must be before the Effect and yet not allwayes in order of time but of nature c. If there be a Pryority or Posteriority of Christ in the Soul certainly the Scriptures hath it in the order of nature though the Lord in the communicating the knowledg of them he is in his being first because the Cause must be before the Effect so the giver of knowledg before the knowledge given Answ. This being rightly considered we find both contradiction and Ignorance in them for Is the Cause before the Effect allwayâ—s in order of nature not of time and yet have the Scriptures the priority in the order of Nature Where learnedest thou this distinction not from the Scriptures nor from Christ Surely Christ hath the Priority in order of time for he is in his being first and if the Cause must be before the Effect alwayes in order of nature then he hath it in both for he was the cause both of Scripture and communicating the knowledg thereof as thou confessest as also that the Cause must be before the Effect so the giver of knowledg before the knowledg given And indeed He was before all things and by him all things consists and in all things he is to have the preheminence and priority Who is the First and the Last the Foundation the Beginning and the End But thy saying if there be a Priority or Posteriority of Christ in the soul certainly the Scriptures hath it in the order of nature in this thou comest off but very saintly and dubiously and bringest the controversy to no result nor clearness but art confused for if there be a Priority of Christ in the â—oul then it is not of the Scriptures it bâ—ing a Priority of Christ who also doth by a Supernatural Influence shine on the understanding c. But in these matters much might be said which time would fail thorowly to treat of Pr. The Juditious will think you a pittifull object who expose your self to shame and ludibrie c. Answ. Thy censure anâ— scorn herein I vallue not it will fall upon thy own head and theirs that have taken thy part herein Pr. Without the Sanctifying knowledge of Christ one may understand the Scriptures without error and â—angling Answ. This is both erronious and contradicts much that thou hast said before and after which I need not very often repeat Pr. Most men have both preached the Truths in the Scriptures and maintained them by Writing who never had any Sanctifying Knowledg of Christ. Answ. This is like the former and that most men have preachâ—d Truths in Scriptures is too large a word and contrary to what thou saidst before of other Nations but what do these things tend to but to set up unsanctified persons to be Preachers or Priests But too many there are of such already for of them and their pollutions many are grown sick and the earth will vomit them out and all that seek to maintain them against Christ and his Kingdom which he is setting up Pr. For Judas he preached the Truths c. The Scribes and Pharisees that sat in Moses seat preached Truths whereas Christ bad hear them Mat. 23.2 3 4. Answ. But doth this prove that Judas had no sanctifying knowledg of Christ Herein hast thou erred for Judas had part of the Ministery from which by transgression he fell Act. 1.17 25. So transgression was the caâ—â—e of his fall from the Ministery and that Scipture Mat. 23.2 3 4. proves not that Christ bad them hear the Scribes and Pharisees nor that they were true Ministers of Christ though wherein they sat in Moses seat and read or preached his Precepts when in force they were to be obeyed but Christ reprehends them in many places for corruptions got in amongst them contrary to the Law and for their vain Traditions and Precâ—pts of men and therein they were not true Ministers of the Law much less of Christ. Pr. Some preached Châ—ist out of envy and strife and not out of love c. yet preached Christ and the Scriptures without errors Phi. 1.15 16 17. Shall we say they had the Sanctifying Knowledg of Christ who had not love to him who hath not good will to him Answ. Thou hast not proved that they preached Christ and the Scriptures without Errors who were in Envy and Strife for they were guilty of Error in the ground Viz. Envy and Stâ—ife and where that is ther 's confusion and every evil work in that Christ was preached and his Name published in those dayes the Apostles rejoyced but not in the Envy and Error of such as preached him out
long ago G. W. The DOCTRINES CONTRADICTIONS INCONSISTENCIES and VARIATIONS of the Presbiterian Priests of Scotland as they were collected in their own words out of the said bundle subscribed by Edward Jameson c. together with brief Observations and Notes upon them evidently shewing the confused body of their perverse work and babylonish structure to the discredit and overthrow of their own corrupt cause by their many and apparent Incosistencies and self Confutations which are here made obvious THere is no man free of sin in this life Christ is manifest to destroy the works of the Devil Then is Christ manifest to destroy sin and free from it which they that plead for know not his manifestation Christ doth not subdue sin totally in this life Whosoever is born of God sinneth not he that abides in him commits not sin Then he that 's born of God and abideth in Christ knowes him to subdue sin totally in this life That Christ is manifest to destroy the work of the devil if you take it so may as well prove that Satan shall not tempt a Child of God The evil one toucheth him not 1 Joh. 3. ch 5. but this doth not prove any thing the evil one toucheth them not To say these do not prove any thing is false and against plain Scripture and they whom the evil one cannot touch his tempting them hath not power to lead them into his work for all are not evil doers whom Satan tempts This saying if we sin implies as much as when we sin We teach that Believers should be daily by the strength of the Spirit fighting against the flesh The strength of the Spirit of God is greater then the devil or sin either and they who truly war by it overcome and Johns words were not when we sin but if we sin which implies not the same We know in part is an imperfect degree of knowledg and so sinful There are promises of a growth unto Believers and of a fulness Which fulness is neither imperfect nor is any degree of true knowledg sinful David Job Daniel their failings are noted which I must cite David said cleanse me from my secret sins And surely then Davids prayers were heard and his requests granted and David Job Daniel and others their deliverances are noted as well as their failings and that in their life time For perfect Righteousness there is no promise in all the Scriptures to any Believer There are promises unto Believers of a fulness Gods everlasting Righteousness is promised which is perfect and the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.13 wherein is neither want nor imperfection Christ bad them search the Scriptures for in them they thought to have eternal life This thought could not be a delusion Preaching is Gods ordinary appointed way for begetting Faith not by immediate inward teaching alone without peaching See the confusion of these Priests one while with them the Scriptures are the ordinary way another while Preaching another while all immediate teaching by God is denyed but another while it s not by immediate inward teaching alone another while a supernatural influence shining on the understanding is owned We may find Eternal Life by searching the Scriptures You deny Learning study of Scriptures and deny them interpretatively Now the Priests interpretations are set for and over Scripture which come not from the true and spiritual learning and study but from Babel They must have the Scriptures who have the knowledge of Christ for without this they cannot be kept from Hell Gods absolute Soveranity in his dispensations of Grace is not to be tyed Then neither to be tyed to the Scriptures nor the Priests preaching nor yet to their confused meanings or uncertain interpretations The Light within is your Enthusiastick fancy Christ enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world has planted some Light in every man of the world It s no less then blasphemy to count Christs Light a fancy for his life is the light of men which we bear witness of I deny any immediate teaching by God Begetting faith is not by immediate inward teaching alone without preaching Then if immediate teaching be of use in part it is not all to be denied The Scripture maketh known inward sins thoughts maketh us wise to Salvation able to save us Christ is said alone to save us none have a sincere Supernatural Faith of the Scripture that are ignorant of Christ there is a faith of the Scriptures that is hystorical which is not sufficient And surely the Scriptures are not Christ without whose knowledg and Supernatural Faith in him the Scriptures are not rightly known and believed but hystorically Without this Viz the Scriptures they cannot be kept from Hell Christ as the principal cause of Salvation is said alone to save us And surely he that alone saves can alone keep man from Hell But the best of these nations and wisest were the greatest enemies to the Gospel All men have a Light of a natural conscience fâ—om him which tells that there is a God and somewhat of the nature of God that he is Eternal and of the morral Law The Light of Christ in all men is not natural but spiritual and those in all Nations that were led by it were not enemies to the Gospel We deny that the power of God is immediate Viz. in his people He told us he will exercise his power for and in us Then his power is immediate in us and works immediatly in us many times to our strengthening comfort and refreshments when we hear no man speak or preach to us Faith is a Habit and an imperfect Creature and it s as impossible it should be otherwise as that a man abiding a man should essentially be a beast Saving Supernatural Enlightning and Sanctifying Faith is the Gift of God What then Are men Saved Englightned and Sanctifyed by that which is imperfect What gross Ignorance and Contradiction is this The Grace of Hope is Imperfect Christ is the Hope of Glory The Grace of Christ is perfect and he is the Grace of all our Graces I call the Scriptures the Word of God and the Gospel the Word of Reconciliation which are distinguished The Gospel is the Scriptures written by the Prophets what Mark wrote is the Gospel the beginning of the Gospel the Gospel is a part of the Scriptures one with them conteined in them If the Scriptures and Gospel be one How are they distinguished And if the Gospel and Mynistry of Christ be one How is the Scripture it And if Marks declaration was the beginning of the Gospel How are the Prophets writings the Gospel Is not manifest confusion variation and inconsistencies in these passages That Christ was first known himself ere he gave the knowledg of the Scriptures the Apostle Paul denies your consequence It s false that any have a sincere Supernatural Faiâ—h of the Scriptures that are ignorant of Christ c. Then t is not false that there must in some degree be a
taken from him by a greater then he We have peace with God but are all compassed about with infirmities and subject to passions as was Elias We are cleansed from all sin by the Blood of Christ. Aâ—l passions are not sinful passions for passions are sufferings for it could not be that Paul and Barnabas were subjects to the like sins with those Idollaters Act. 14.13 14 15. when subject to like passion with them Here is another Arminion and Popish error that believers may fall from Grace A believer may fall Peter and David sinned foully Surely their sinning so foully was not in the Faith but when they were turned from it which required their repentance That Peter and David fell from Faith is an Arminion and Popish error Evil works come not from Faith Then the evil works they did were out of and against the Faith and had they stood in the Faith they had been kept from those evil works Peter and David had their failings Viz. till deaâ—h Eliah an old Prophet subject to like passion as we are c. Christ said to Peter I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren Doth signify when he should be fully recovered And surely Peter was so converted or fully recovered as to strengthen his Brethren before his decease and like passions were like sufferings which may relate to sickness Jaâ— â— 13 14. or other afflictions for Paul and Barnabas were not subject to the like Sins or Idollatry with those heathens Act. 14.15 It is not sad Doctrine as you say but comfortable that as believers may fall as Peter and David whereas he doth not fall wholly away but hath still the Seed of Grace remaining in him p. 24. The sad breach that Peters fall made on his Soul did weaken his Grace and cloud his comforts very much There are remains of sin within us which we are to mourn for If sin did very much cloud his comforts and be the cause of mournings as it was both to David and Peter then for you to plead for sin term of life cannot be a comfortable Doctrine unless to such as be hardened in sin and take pleasure in it Which improvment of the Light within must indeed come from free will and consequently ye hold Merit We must put on the whole armour of God and war against sin pa. 23. Do not they improve the Light who war against sin and this is not of or from mans will in the Fall but from the power that converts and works in him to will and to do There are remains of sin within us while we live here which we are to mourn for The kingdom of God is Righteousness Peace Joy in the holy ghost Twenty sixth Page Therefore sin which is the cause of sorrow hath no place in the kingdom of God which the Saints attain to here Faith is an habit and an imperfect creature Saving Faith is given of God and is a saving enlightning of the Soul to know Christ Faith is a Sanctifying Light What strange Doctrine is this that an imperfect creature is a Saviour an Enlightener a Sanctifier and doth the Kirk of Scotland receive this for Orthodox The Gift of God is perfect and every good and perfect Gift comes from God Those who tell us of a Faith in Christ without Scriptures have no Light in them pa. 28. Twenty sixth Pag. The Jewes wilfully rejected the Light and shut their eyes against it wicked men who rebel against the Light have the Light of a natural Conscience and the common work of the Spirit Then they had the Light and the work of the Spirit is not natural but no Light in them excludes natural Light as well as spiritual from being in them whereas in that Isa. 8.20 it should be no morning in stead of no Light Jesus Christ bid them search the Scriptures for to find him in them They might have Life by the true spiritual knowledg of Faith these who believed and had Life did own the Light within and who denieth that is Christ sheweth by the Spirit of Revelation and Wisdom within Now Supernatural Knowledg Light within Spirit of Revelation and Wisdom within is confessed but another while imediate teaching power c. is denied by those who think to find Christ in the Scriptures but Is that Christ that suffered at Jerusalem to be found in the Scriptures How blind are you Priests of Scotland The Child of God cannot sin Totally and Finally There is no man liveth and sineth not Those for whom Christ hath given himself he Redeemeth from all iniquity How from all iniquity and yet sin so much contended for by you These all for whom Christ died cannot be meant of each individual person of the world how are they lost if he came to save them this argueth defect of wisdom to foresee want of power to effect his intention pa. 31. He died for all some have wilfully rejected the Grace given that wilfully trample under foot the blood of the Son of God There is neither defect of wisdom nor want of power in Christ but wilfulness and rebellion in man that lets he died for all his Grace is freely tendered that they may believe and be saved But this is not by absolute compulsion and force as if therefore he were absolutely intended to save all but Love and Good Will is shewed towards all many wilfully reject and trample upon it as is confest Motions of Satan and our deceitful hearts are to be tried it is comfortable Doctrine that a believer may fall as David and Peter Those that got a new heart from God and his fear put in them they do not depart nor revolt It is the deceitful hearts that are comforted with such Doctrine that is for falling as David and Peter did and not the new heart in which Gods fear is put The Scriptures do reveal the Mysteries pa. 27. Jesus Christ sheweth by the Spirit of Revelation and Wisdom within pa. 30. The Scriptures testifie of the Mysteries but then Christ by that Spirit within Reveales them The Scriptures being many words of God taken together they are called the Word of God pa. 25. The Scriptures calleth Christ the Word of God in some places Christ the Word was before the Scriptures or the Words besides one word is not many words nor many words properly to be taken for one word Is not the Father distinct from the Son and the Spirit in the personal Subsistance pa. 31. Both the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are a Spirit pa. 33. Both â—or all a Spirit and yet distinct in personal Subsistance Where learned you this Doctrine Not from the Scriptures Ye do not own what the Scriptures assert but your own blasphemous fancies Viz. about the Deity three Persons distinct in the personal Subsistance pa. 32. Ye say ye own what the Scriptures of Truth assert of the God-head That there are three that bear record in heaven
through Preaching openly he is not limitted yet no Preaching is truely effectual without him who is the chief Teacher For Priest It might have been answered by one of your oppinion 2. Paul your question is idle and vain for most men believe without a Preacher they shall believe the Light within teaching them Answ. If they cannot Preach except they be sent then who must send them and give them power for that work but Christ Secondly Neither do we so accuse Pauls question with being idle nor say that most men believe without a Preacher especially if they believe the Light within teaching them for that is Christs Light who is the true Teacher which brings to the substance of true Preaching and Teaching which proceeds from the Light within Priest The Scriptures Preached or the things contained in them is the ordinary way of begeting Faith Answ. The things contained in them seems a little to mend thy matter which things contained were before the Scriptures or Writings were and extend farther for some had and performed the things contained in the Law which had not the Law Viz. outward and many in this day can testify that the Spirit and Light within hath manifested within many things contained in Scripture before they read them outwardly there Priest The whole council of God Paul sheweth forth Act. 20.27 yet no other things then those which Moses and the Prophets did say the Scriptures Act. 26.22 Answ. All Pauls Preaching or his whole council from God is noâ— Recorded there but little in comparison of what he Pâ—eached Recorded he continued his Speech or Preaching till midnight ver 7. and talked even till break of day Where is this Sermon Recorded Many Scriptuâ—es and Books were writ by the holy men which we have not in the Bible were it not grose and false therefore to exclude them as no part of the councel of God Priest Is not that another Gospel that all the world over are taught Christ and his Gospel Answ. It is not our Gospel therefore unjustly charged against us for not all the world over are taught or are learned Christ and his Gospel though all have a Light from him sufficient to teach Priest In the use of Scriptures we are to expect he will beget Faith by his inward Teachings and Workings on the heart Answ. the matter is somwhat mended in confessing to his inward Teaching and Working on the heart but in that it seems to be tyed up or limited to the use of the Scriptures this dâ—nyes the sufficiency and extent of the Spirits inward Teaching which many have who cannot read nor use Scriptures and those who having not the Law were a Law to themselves and shewed the works of the Law written in their hearts c. though the Scriptures of Truth in their place we must needs own in that Spirit that gave them forth but whereas other-whiles Preaching is made the cause but now the Scriptures this is to make the Scriptures and Preaching all one and â—hen people may spare their mony they give to Priests for Preaching and giving their Interpretations to the Scriptures and onely read them with expectation of Christs inward teaching and working on the heart which indeed ought to be inwardly and Spiritually expected and waited for Priest He bid them search the Scriptures for in them they thought to have eternal life and they testified of him Joh. 5.39 this thought could not be a delusion Ans If this thought of their having Eternal Life in the Scriptures was not a delusion then they had Eternal Lâ—fe according to their thought but Christ testifies the contrary against â—hem in the following words saying Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life so to affirm they had it in the Scriptures is to affirm they had Christ in the Scriptures and that their searching them was their coming to Christ which is both contrary to their state and opposite to Christs own words of them that they would not come unto him that they might have Life And this contradicts thy former and much of thy stuff about Scriptures Priest â—f the searching and believing the Testimony of Christ given by the Scriptures be not really to find Eternal Life but an error c. such a thought as we blind Priests have then Christ would have told them of that error and bid them look for Life by following the Light within Answ. Believing the Testimony of Christ and searching the Scriptures are to things and the belief of which Testimony comes not barely by sâ—aâ—ching them for if it did then all that searched them had that belief and so Life c. which is contrary to the truth of what is apparent concerning many and to Christs own words of them they thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures and yet had neither heard the voyce of God at any time nor seen his shape they not believing him whom he sent nor would come to Christ that they might have Life Priest The Fathers before the Scriptures were written had the things contained in them by Revelations audable Voices Visions Dreames c. not by the Light within your Enthusiastick Fancy Answ. Yes It was by the Light within that they had the knowledge of those and had Revelations Prophecies c. For the Word of Prophecy was a Light to them and the inspiration of the Almighty gave them understanding when God spoke in a dream or vision of the night c. and God hath promised to pour down his Spirit upon all flesh that sons and daughters may prophecy young men may see visions c. Joel 2. was this a fancy Or to be mockt at as thou hast done Your Enthusiastick Fancy thou sayâ—st what grose error and ignorance hast thou herein shewed Priest That Christ will now beget Faith without the Scriptures Preached or known it were as good an inference to say because that by faith in Jesus Christ to come in the flesh the Fathers under the old Testament were saved therefore though one should not believe that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh yea though he should deny he is come he may be savâ—d if he believe he is to come Answ. An unequal parallel and false inference and abuse against us to compare the Scriptures with Christs coming in the flesh or to bring them in competition therewith and how did the Fathers know he was to come but by the Light or Spiâ—it of Prophecy within And how did the Saints truly and effectually know he was come but by the understanding and Eternal Life he had given them From whence Scriptures were given and from whence they spoke and wrot Priest 1. You deny the main end of Scriptures which is that we by believing what is written of Christ. 2. In them may have Eternal Life Joh. 20. 3. That we may find Eternal Life by searching they testify of him Answ. Nay the main end of Scriptures we cannot deny whilst we own and testifie to that Spirit
sufficiency both for Believing and Salvation Priest All men have a Light of a natural Conscience from him which tells that there is a God and somewhat of the nature of God that he is Eternal which they may read in the creatures Rom. 1.19 20. and of the morral Law which yet is but very dark c. Answ. Where do the Scriptures call it a Light of a natural Conscience What great Ignorance is here seeing Christ is the true Light that enlightens every man c. And that which might be known of God was manifested in them which gave the knowledg of the Eternal Power and God-head from the creatures and of the Law of God in the heart and that Light or that which might be known of God which gave this knowledg was not natural of a natural Conscience as blindly is conceived and asserted for the natural man with his natural knowledg perceives not those Spiritual or Invisible things nor can he know them but he that 's turned to a Spiritual Light and Principle within where that which may be known of God is manifested Priest But of Christ in his nature and the nature of Faith they cannot without the Scriptures so far as it is Gods appointed Way Answ. Christ is Gods appointed Way c. This high and general opinion of the Scriptures depends upon the former conceit of finding Eternal Life in them by searching of them but that 's answered and contradicted by this our Antagonist himself over and over Supernatural knowledge and Faith of Scriptures being not had without the knowledg of Christ but there are many search and read Scriptures that are both out of this knowledg and Faith so that t is evident that the bare reading Scriptures doth not attract supernatural Faith Knowledg Light Spirit c. but it is the supernatural Light and Spirit that brings to the serious reading and supernatural knowledg of Scriptures And it s also confessed in contradiction to much more however that the Light in all men teaches them of the morral Law and Is not that Scripture or things contained in it Priest The Light wherewith Christ enlightens all all Nations had before Christ came in the flesh as well as now and yet Who will say that they all knew Christ Answ. It is not our saying nor assertion that they all knew Christ though some by his Spirit or Light then had a fore-sight of his coming before he so came though since he has given a more full demonstration and discovery of his Light Priest If all men are taught to know Christ by the Light within them Why sent he Apostles to all Nations to make them disciples Mat. 28.20 Answ. All men are not taught that knowledg by the Light because all obey it not but many love darkness rather The Apostles were sent to turn them from darkness to the Light that therein they might know their Doctrine fulfilled and be Christs disciples Priest Why did he give gifts to Apostels Pastors Teachers which should continue till we all come to that unity of the Faith and fulness of the Stature of Christ Was that Light within dim in those times that it needed the help of outward Light How was it a mystery hid from Ages Answ. The dimness was in the Persons that were to be turned and directed to the Light not in the Light it self and the Apostles went by virtue of the Light and Gifts in them for the help of people and not the Light for their sufficiency and help was in it and from it which was not outward nor natural and having confessed Gifts Teachers c. to continue till we all come to the unity of the Faith and fulness of the stature of Christ. How obviously hast thou herein contradicted thy former Doctrine for imperfection and sin till death c. Priest You have made the visible Church very large who have taken all the men of the world that ever hath been into it If the Lord has given Grace and Knowledg equally to all men Wherein stands the freedom of his Grace towards them that are saved Answ. These are both forged and false accusations depending upon the former against us for neither did we ever make the visible Church of that largness nor is it our Principle that Grace and Knowledge is given equally to all men that 's but thy false inference against us whereupon thou hast grounded much of thy caviling against us like one that loves to fight with thy own shadow or a man of straw of thy own makeing to make and forge lies against us and then go to confute them Unprofitable and vain Priest Never did the greatest Enemy of free Grace so tye up and limmit God in the dispensations of Grace as you that with good words and fair speeches would deceive the Soules of the simple Answ. Nay Thou and such like go about to tye up and limmit God in the dispensations of Grace who would tye it up onely to a few and deny its universal extent to all and as those Priests of Scotland that formerly curst all them that held Grace is free and that with good words and fair speeches we would deceive the hearts of the simple is a slander against us and against our end and intentions and contrary to the tendency of our words and speeches Priest Judas got as much from God as Peter did but he rejected it but Peter made better use of it Your free Grace that all men have received alike doth not exclude boasting but say Well was it with us that made better use of that which others in hell got as well as we Thanks to our deligence and good intentions and tractableness in harkning to the Light within which all the damned got as bright shining as well as we but for Christ we have no cause to thank him more then the damned have This is the Language your Doctrine of free Grace teacheth men to say in their thanks-giving Answ. Here-upon several of thy false conclusions and inferences against us thou hast thus uanted and made a false Language of our Doctrine contrary to the very nature and tendency of it Who but men in hardness and impudent boldness would go to confute and raise absurdityes on our Principles when they do not know them but are yet to learn as thou art with thy companions For it is not our Principle nor the Language of our Doctrine that all have the knowledg of Christ equally and that Judas got as much from God as Peter nor that free Grace all have received alike nor that the damned got the Light within as bright shining as we but that God is no respecter of persons in that he gives liberally to all so much of his Grace to every one as is sufficient yet not that all have received alike or the same degree of Grace and Knowledg c. for all receive not or accept not that measure of Grace given to them to obey it But whereas we are scoâ—â— at
thou knowest not which as before was answered thee makes for their imagination of a Purgatory but if the Papists hold that some Believers are free from all Sin and perfected in this Life therein they outstrip thee and the Priests who would exclude all Believers from perfection and freedom in this Life Pr. Ye say that all men have a like Light and Grace some do attain to salvation others not which proceedeth not from any difference of Grace given by God but that others have better improven the Light given to all which improvement must indeed come from free will Ye hold Merit You are not so ingenious as Papists An. Concerning Grace being given alike to all if thou intendest in measure or quantity thou hast vainly made repetitions without ground against us but as for the improvement of the Grace it comes not from free will as falsly thou hast said but from the capacity the creature is put into by the Grace it self for mans will is not made free of it selfe but by the Grace or Power of God which worketh in man to will and to do But and if somes not attaining of salvation is because it s either from a difference of the Grace given by God or for want of sufficient Grace given by him according to thy Doctrine then this charges the fault upon God as being partial and the occasion of some mens destruction contrary to that saying of the Prophet He willeth not the death of a sinner but rather his return c. Pr. That the Light that Christ enlighteneth all men with is sufficient for the knowledg of the mysteries of the Kingdom is contrary to Scriptures An. Nay It is not contraâ—y to the Scriptures that the Light of Christ in men is sufficient for the knowledg of mysteries of the Kingdom savingly in that t is sufficient for believing leading out of darkness and to receive the Light of Life And they from whom God hath hid those mysteries are such as disobey the Light and shut their eyes against it as Christ said Their eyes have they closed c. least they should see and be converted and I should heal them All which doth evidence the defect and fault not to be in the Light of Christ but in them that disobey it Pr. The natural man cannot know the things that are of God he hath no sufficient Light to know that which he cannot know An. That therefore he hath no sufficient Light is no true consequence for then by this none have Light sufficient whilst in the natural state which all are in before they are made spiritual thy consequence had onely held to prove the Light insufficient if thou couldest have proved that they that are in the fallen and natural state cannot be changed nor restored into a spiritual state but this were gross to affirm for as man is natural he cannot know the things of the Spirit buâ— the spiritual man doth Pr. The Jewes that had the outward meanes shut their eyes against it neither doth it mean of the Light of Christ within except onely the Light of nature An. The Jews had not onely an outward meanes but also an inward Light the good Spirit of God given to them though they Rebelled and the Word nigh them in their heaâ—ts c. which was not a Light of nature Herein thou hast greatly erred And would Christ have reproved any for shutting their eyes against that which is natural and insufficient and made that the cause of their not being converted and healed See Mat. 13 15. Thine and the Priests darkness and ignorance in this matter How great is it Pr. The Kingdom of God being Righteousness Peace Joy in the Holy Ghost no man that hath not the Sanctifying Spirit hath it or had it within him no peace nor joy in the wicked An. The Kingdom of heaven was in the Pharisees or Jews as Christ said The kingdom of heaven is within you Luk. 17.21 when they were unsanctifyed though they were not come into it nor to attain to the righteousness and peace of it for that 's attained to by such as are translated out of darkness into the Light for all that have a true Light and Seed in them are not in it Pr. The Light of the Scriptures is a Light shining in a dark place 2 Pet. 1. An. The Light that Peter directed them to was the more sure Word of prophecy 2 Pet. 1. And was that the Scriptures of the Prophets Or did that Light come from them or from Christ If so then Why were they not directed to the Scriptures of the Apostles Or Were the Scriptures of the Prophets more sure then the Apostles writings Surely the Light which leads to the day star arising in the heart thou art exceeding ignorant of and thy darkness may be felt Pr. How gross Pelagionisme is that the same Light which was Sanctifying to others that obeyed was Condemning to Judas and Cain Is Gods revealing of those things and hiding of them the same Sanctifying Light and Illumination An. God who reveals those things to the obedient that he hides from the disobedient this plainly contradicts thee and thy former words for God is still the same Light and it is the Spirit of Truth that Sanctifyes and Justifyes the Righteous or Obedient that reproves the world of sin c. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light c. Joh. 3. So in this matter thou hast shewed thy self ignorant of the Scriptures Pr. Where there are many Words of God being taken together they are called the Word of God An. Thou mightest as well say that many words and one word are both one Where provest thou thy assertion For in contradiction to this presently after the Scriptures call Christ the Word of God in some places and sure the Scriptures and Christ are distinguished they are not Christ. Pr. K. 8.46 That there is no man liveth and sinneth not It doth not say there is no man liveth and hath not sinned An. He that abideth in Christ the second Covenant sinneth not but is redeemed out of that state in which there is no man that sinneth not and John said If we say we have not sinned we make him a liar c. 1 Joh. 1.10 Pr. Their begetting is in order of nature before their faith An. Wheâ—e provest that Is begetting in the unbelief then and not in the Faith whereas the Word which begetteth is the Word of Faith and profits not where t is not mixed with Faith within Pr. Those of your way have held out to the world that to have Hebrew Greek and Latine is a mark of Antichrist An. Thou hast often wronged those of our way as thou hast in this wherein thou art answered at first Pr. Those who tell us of a faith in Christ without the Scriptures have no Light in them Secondly There are many things which we think and desire against the Law
which the Light within would never have discovered if there had not been the knowledg of the Law contained in the Scriptures An. Are all unbelievers then and have no Light in them but who have the Scriptures Thy blindness in this is detected before And What contradiction is it to tell of some having no Light in them when before thou hast confessed all men to have a natural Light or the Light of a natural Conscience in them Secondly And was it the Scriptures or the Law as it is in the Letter that discovered to Paul his sins and desires or the Law inward For he had the Law outward before he knew or was turned to the Law in his mind or was clâ—arly convinced in himsâ—lf Pr. Did ever the Prophets or Apostles try the Doctrines of persons deluded by Satan with the Spirit without the Scripture Deut. 13. An. The Prophets and Apostles had the Spirit and knew its sufficiency before they gave forth Scriptures and these were not deluded by Satan as falsly thou hast accused us to be An. Have not some of your way been so blasphemous as to aver Jesus Christ to be a type as to call themselves the Messiah to whom Hosanna should be said An. I know none in our way that either calls themselves the Messiah or that own such a thing but coâ—fess to Jesus Christ as bâ—ing the substance and the end of types shadows and figures but as for those whom thou hints of about their saying Hosanna they were not in our way but testified against and some of themselves came after to see confess and repent of their error so to upbraid us with any one 's failings or miscarriage espetially when t is both disowned and testifyed against by us this is both unequal and unjust and wouldest thou be so dealt by if I should go to reckon up how many drunken and whoreing Priests thâ—re be and should charge all of you and your whole Kirk with their wickedness Wouldest thou take it well Which indeed I might better do whilest such are owned and upheld as teachers of others among you thâ—n thou mights accuse us with persons and actions that are cast out from amongst us Pr. What is the Rule whereby the motions of the Spirit are to be tryed whether they be such or the motions of Satan and our deceitful hearts Ye answer the Spirit is the Rule but this cannot be for the Spirit hath given the Scriptures Secondly Neither is that place which ye cite to the purpose Viz. The Anoynting teacheth all things for though he teach it is by this Rule An. Yes The Spirit of God is sufficient a Rule sufficient both to try the motions of Satan and your deceitful hearts it searcheth all things The Lord searcheth the hearts and tryeth the reines telleth unto man his thoughts And if the Anoynting within teacheth of all things Must the Scriptures be a Rule to the Anoynting that thou seemest to tye it to the Scriptures Or Is not the teaching of the Anoynting Scripture as well as it was in them that spoke Scripture from it Or Must not people believe the Anoynting till they have searched the Scriptures to try it by them If so then when the Anoynting would tell and shew them their perticular states and thoughts and motions which the Scriptures do not tell them nor perticularly charge upon them then they are not at all in such cases to believe nor follow the Anoynting according to thy Doctrine and what is this but to set up the Scriptures above the Anoynting and the Letter above the Spirit which is a gross error and bespeaks great ignorance Pr. In the Synod at Jerusalem Act. 15. the Apostles searched the Scriptures for what they determined before they said it seemed good to the holy ghost and us An. Where provest thou that they searched the Scriptures for what they determined before they said it seemed good to the holy ghost and us Doth not this plainly confute thee that what they said was from the holy ghost And Was not its teaching their Rule then And What Scripture had they then to forbid Circumcision as they did Nay Had they not Scripture raâ—her for it If then they had not Scripture to forbid it they should not have dâ—nied or forbid it nor have believed the holy ghost in this case by thy Doctrine what silly work hast thou made on 't and How hast thou broken the neck of thy own cause Pr. The gift of discerning of Spirits was a peculiar gift given but to some but this was not for tryal of Doctrine None who had that gift of discerning of Spirits did try any Truths or Doctrine or practice but by the Scripture An. This is a strange Doctrine that they must onely try Spirits by the gift or Spirit of Truth and not any Truths or Doctrine Whether is greater the tryal of Spirits or of Doctrines Whâ—reas the Spirit searchâ—th all things and is a Spirit of true Judgment that giveth true understanding but according to thy false Doctrine that none who had discerning of Spirits did try any Truths or Doctrine or practice but by the Scriptures Then by this when the Apostles in their Epistles writ divers things that were not before in the Scriptures they were not to be believed by them in the Churches that had the gift of discerning and when the Spirit of Truth shall lead to speak or prophesie concerning a perticular Place People or Nation that which they have no Scripture for this therefore is not to be believed for want of Scripture to prove it by Thy ignorant and sottish stuff which also excludes all those Books and Prophesies of the holy men of God spoken of which are not recordâ—d in the Bible And those of our Friends which foretold of the late calamities befallen the City of London both that of the â—lague and that of the Fire which were both fore-seen and fore-told yet they had no Scripture to prove it but alass such as thou are silly and shallow in these matters being but as those Seers and Watchmen that are blind who would insinuate into people that both Prophesying Visions and Revelations are ceasâ—d and lay all upon the Scriptures and then how know you the Doctrine contained in them to be true without the Spirit Pr. Ye say Must the Scriptures be the Rule to discern or try false Spirits when they speak Scripture Ans. When the Devil spake Scripture to Christ he confuted him by Scripture which shewed he had perverted them and so he confounded the Scribes and Pharisees alwayes An. But could not Christ discerne the Devils spirit without the Scriptures What gross error and ignorance is implyed and couched in this thy impertinent answer Thou tellest us Christ confuted him by the Scripture which was when the Devil brought Scripture words to back his Temptations withal which is not an answer besides the Devils tempting Christ in these words Command that these stones be made bread and Cast thy self down
Supernatural Knowledg and Faith of Christ before the Scriptuâ—es be truely known or believed I deny any immediate teaching by God Christs immediate teaching will no wayes follow Christs opening the understanding to know the Scriptures for he doth by the same Supernatural Influence shine on the understanding and Scriptures Luke 24.22 Christs opening and shining by a Supernatural Influence plainly proves immediate teaching as we called Quakers do hold and against the Priests of Scotlands denying it who thus confute themselves If there be any Pryority or Posteriority of Christ in the Soul the Scriptures hath it in the order of nature The Lord in the comunicating of the knowledg of them he is in his being first the cause must be before the effect so the giver of knowledg before the knowledg given So that he that is the first and cause of true knowledg hath the Priority and Preheminence in all things without whom the Scriptures are not known and if it be a Priority of Christ as is said then Christ hath it Without the Sanctifying knowledg of Christ one may understand the Scriptures without error and jangling None can know the Truths of the Scriptures without the Sanctifying Knowledg of Christ. So then without that Sanctifying Knowledg none can understand them without error We may find Eternal Life by searching Scriptures they thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures this thought could not be a delusion He that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh to him Viz. to Christ he to wit the Spirit of Truth shall lead believers into all Truth So then the Father is to be heard and learned of that the Son may be come to and the Spirit to be followed to lead into all Truth and this way was before the Scriptures Sin is remaining in part in all the faculties of Gods Children Viz. in the Will Mind and Affections Cleanse thou me from my secret sins Peter exhorted the believing Hebrewes to abstain from their lusts Then let not sin nor sinful lusts allwayes remain in believers If you find out any other faculty of the Soul which can be a seat for sin to dwell in then the Schooles will be beholding to you for your new Phylosophie When they are believers and begotten they are so freed that the evill one cannot touch them many are commended for keeping his Commandments If the evil one cannot touch them much less hath he power to lead them into sin all their time or to uphold sin in all their faculties and the Schools that would have more place for sin allow Christ no place Believers are not freed from sin wholy till death To be unblamable is that Grace which is universal in all parts of the renewed man Unblameable is inconsistant with sin for sin is blameable where ever it is A believer ever after he is begotten of God is not free of sin they do not perfectly mortify lusts in them In the Book of Common Prayer there is a promise to forsake the Devil and all his Works the vain Pompe and Glory of the world and sinful lusts of the flesh and be led by Gods Spirit to keep his Commands many of those who promise may do this and keep it What greater promise can there be of freedom from sin then to forsake the Devil and all his works to be led by Gods Spirit to keep his Commands Your new Light you pretend is nothing but old Damnable Popery The Spirit of truth will lead believers into all truth He that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh to him Viz. to Christ. Our Light is the Light of the Spirit of Truth which cometh from Christ and guides both to hear and learn of the Father and this Light was before the Scriptures were and its blasphemy to call it Damnable Popery In the present time I am sold under sin that good I would do I do not Groaning under a body of death It was not a by-gone state Paul speakes of in the present time I am Paul was giving thanks for victory through Jesus Christ yet all these are knit together Victory and being sold under sin are two differing states as warring and being more then a Conqueror are Paul spake to the Romans after the manner of men because of the infirmity of their flesh and therein condescended to their capacities below his own present state and injoyment Perfect holiness of both Soul and Body is not to be till the Resurrection Viz. after death Believers at their death which is upon their dying are made perfectly holy Perfect holiness ought not to be put off neither so long after death nor till death for what time do you allow Christ to reign in man and to serve him if all your life time sin must remain and so long the Devil be served The Godly falleth into sin seven times a day Christ saith to Peter that he should forgive his brother seventy times seven which implyeth that a brother may offend often in the day time As for my saying a day it was a mistake of the citation of the place That of the Spirit is most prevailing with Gods Children as unto which they do adhere the flesh they renounce and resist and which by little and little they overcome It had been well thou hadst confest thy mistakes as ingenuously in other things the controversie had been the less but Do the Brethren sin all their dayes When then do they overcome What gross confusion art thou in While we live we must put on the armour of God and war against sin which is not to be ended till we lay down this Tabernacle We are cleansed from all sin by the Blood of Christ in Justification when we do believe If believers be cleansed from all sin when they do believe How have they it to war against till they lay down this Tabernacle Surely they believe before Our peace stands in our Justification by Faith and yet there are remains of sin in us which we are to mourn for There is a perfect cleansing from the guilt of sin What a cleansing from the guilt of sin and not from the sin it self this is quite contrary to Scriptures Christ was given for an advocate for the sins of those whom John calls little Children and his own which therefore were to be That of 1 Joh. 1.12 I write unto you that you may not sin Page 30. Christ Redeemeth from all iniquity is a Saviour and saveth them from their sins Math. 1.21 Luke 19.10 Christ being thus a Redeemer a Saviour an Advocate therefore sins are not to be and there was young Men and Fathers as well as little Children The Devils work remains unsubdued in the Child of God appeares by that Paul saith to the Romans The God of peace c. The God of peace shall tread down Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16 20. And sure when Satan is thus trodden down under foot his work cannot remain unsubdued for both his power and possession is