shall preach unto you any other Gospell then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed I say againe let him be accursed Gal. 1.8 9. then take heed of the Antinomians new Gospell who have cast off all obedience to the law of God who desire to live without rule like sonnes of Belial that they may take their full swing in sinne under their damnable pretence that they have gotten free grace that hath freed them from all obedience to the law of God but for thy information I have written this little booke read it and if thou receive any benefit or satisfaction give God the praise and me the benefit of thy prayers now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the onely wise God our Saviour be glory and Majesty dominion and power now and evermore Amen Thine in the Lord Jesus Thomas Bakewell A short view of the Antinomean Errours with a Briefe Answer to them They hold that a man is justified as soone as he hath a being in the sight of God before faith or calling TO this I answer leaving the decrees and purposes of God to himselfe as secret things not belonging to us till we have faith and calling but to speake as it is reveal'd and according to our apprehension both of the causes and time of a sinners actuall justification as it is reveal'd unto us in the Scripture First we are said to be justified by the blood of Christ Rom. 5.9 this is done by Christ as the meriting cause of our justification He hath purchased his Church with his owne blood Acts 20.28 Secondly we are said to be justified by the righteousnesse of Christ Rom. 5.18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all unto juctification of life this is the formall cause of our justification this righteousnesse of Christ is not that Inherent righteousnesse or sanctification that is wrought in us by the Spirit of God but it is that without us which remaines in Christ himselfe that justifies us for they are two distinct thing it is called the righteousnesse of God Rom. 1.17 Then they are very ignorant of Gods righteousnesse that goe about to establish their owne righteousnesse and have not submitted themselves to the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10.3 Paul desired not to be found in his owne righteousnesse but in that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse of God by faith Phil. 3.9 This righteousnesse without us being imputed to us makes us just and righteous in the sight of God by this alone we are counted worthy of the Kingdome of God 2 Thess 1.5 and accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead Luke 20.35 see 21.36 and saith Paul David also describeth the blessednesse of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without workes and Abraham by the hand of Faith as an instrument whereby he tooke fast hold of the righteousnesse of Christ giving glory to God and staggered not through unbeleefe it was counted reckoned or imputed unto him for righteousnesse now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed unto him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we beleeve on him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead Rom. 4.6 20 21 22 23 24. Thus we become righteous in the sight of God and although we were borne in the guilt of originall sinne yet now it is done away by Christ for he hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Isa 53.6 so then Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sinne is covered and Blessed is he to whom the Lord will not impute sinne Rom. 4.7 Psal 32.1 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe not imputing their trespasses 2 Cor. 5.19 thus our sinnes were imputed to Christ but not infused into him for still he was the Lambe without blemish and without spot who did no sinne neither was guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 1.19.2.22 Yet he that knew no sinne was made sinne for us by imputation they were accounted and reckoned to be his and so Christ hath once suffered for sinnes the just for the unjust 1 Pet. 3.18 That we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 But this was not done by infusing his righteousnesse into us to make us just for we are sinfull creatures still we are all as an uncleane thing and all our righteousnesse are as filthy ragges Isa 64.6 So then we are justified by the righteousnesse of Christ without us imputed or reckoned to be ours for we are made the righteousnesse of God in him and not in our selves this rightly observed might convince them of their proud boasting that they are as righteous as Christ when as the righteousnesse of Christ that makes us just remaines in him and not in us Thirdly we are said to be justified by faith Rom. 3.28.5.1 This is done when we take or receive the righteousnesse of Christ being purchased by the blood of Christ and so imputed and reckoned to be ours being reached forth unto us by the spirit of God and received by the hand of our faith and so we come to have a true title to it yet not by infusion but by imputation and faith for as many as received him he gave power to become the sonnes of God even to them that beleeve on his Name John 1.12 To him that worketh not but beleveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 Not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Phil. 3.9 Israel hath not attained to the law of righteousnesse wherefore because they sought it not by faith but by the workes of the law therefore they stumbled at that stumbling stone but whosoever beleeveth on him shall not be ashamed Rom. 9.31.32.33 Faith applying makes Christ ours as Thomas beleeving said my God and my Lord John 20.27 28. Then I conclude this third cause of our justification being the instrumentall cause of it with that saying of Paul God justifies the circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith Rom. 3.30 but I never read of any that were justified without faith or before faith or calling let the Antenomeans prove the contrary if they can Fourthly we are said to be justified freely by his grace Rom. 3.24 that is when God the Father doth freely accept of the righteousnesse purchased by the blood of Christ and accounts and imputes it unto us as ours and reacheth it our unto us by his spirit and we take and receive it by faith thus to justifie us is freely of his grace and this deserves the title of free grace For God so loved the
justified as soone as they had any being when they lived in all manner of sinne whatsoever the divell having their souls in full possession But such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified and then it follows that they were justified 1. Cor. 6.11 doth God charge us not to cast pearls before swine nor to give that which is holy to dogges and will he give his chiefest benefits to them that remaine dogges and swine many yeers before they are effectually called and have any true faith wrought in them this is very pleasing doctrine I must needs confesse for dogges and swine but let the true Children of God take heed of it least they sucke too much of their honey-combe and so they poyson their souls and perish eternally but the righteousnesse of Christ is received of us by the hand of our faith and so becomes ours and you see that the Scripture is cleare for it But they will needs be justified in the sight of God without faith or calling and I finde their reason to be this because that Christ took our nature upon him and suffered in it therefore by the humaine nature of Christ they are truly made the sonnes of God by adoption and justified without any faith or calling they say that they need make no application of it to themselves by faith but without faith it is unpossible to please God Heb. 11.6 and whatsoever is not of faith is sinne Rom. 14.23 therefore the truth is as mary as received him he gave power to become the Sonnes of God even to them that beleeve on his name John 1.12 God the Father signed and sealed his Son to the office of Mediatorship but who hath any part in him I ans He that receiveth his testimony hath set too his seal that God is true John 3.35 He that beleeveth is not condemned but he that beleeveth not is damned already because he hath not beleeved on the name of the onely begotten Sonne of God he that beleeveth on the Sonne hath life and he that beleeveth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3.18.36 He that beleeveth on the Sonne of God hath the witnesse in himselfe and he that beleeveth not God hath made him a lyar because he beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Sonne John 3.10 Then are such as these unbeleevers uncalled that make God a lyar that are in a damnable estate and the wrath of God abiding on them are these justified in the sight of God let such doctrine be damned to the pit of hell yet such are the Elect as well as the Reprobate before their calling and conversion as they came into the world untill they have justifying saith wrought in them there was no difference betweene us and them till our hearts were spirifiedly â—aith Rom. 15. â— 2.22 The Scripture hath concluded all under 〈…〉 at â—he promise by faith in Jesus Christ may be given to them that beleeve Gal. 3.22 But they say that faith is imperfect therefore it cannot take hold sufficiently on Christ to justifie them I answer if the begger can but reach out his hand although it be weake or lame to take his almes yet it is his when he hath received it sure enough as if he had received it by a stronger hand and it were folly to say that his almes is not his because his hand is weak or lame that received it so he that by faith taketh the righteousnesse of Christ it is his sure enough although his faith were never so weak if it be true faith and it were folly to say that the righteousnesse of Christ is none of his because he had not a stronger faith to receive it but marke their folly they say that a man may be justified without faith and yet not by faith because it is too weak but must we beleeve their errours or the Spirit of God that cannot lye Rom. 3.28.4.5.5.1 but they say faith will not endure for ever therefore it cannot justifie us as a hand or instrument I answer from the former simily that when the begger hath received his almes if he should bethinke himselfe then and say this almes is not mine because the hand that took it must perish and rot in the grave should we not thinke it grosse folly in him and so to say that the righteousnesse of Christ is not mine because my faith must end with my body but if the beggers hand were afterward cut off yet the almes is his for all that and so let faith dye with us yet having received the righteousnesse of Christ that is really ours to all eternity and the Lord looks upon his people as they are cloathed with the righteousnesse of Christ being received by faith and not so much upon the hand that received it whether it be weak or strong so it be in truth and then he esteemes us as perfectly justified and shall abide so for ever The next grosse errours are these they being justified assoone as they have any being then God cannot see their sinne for they are perfectly righteous even as righteous as Christ assâ—one as they have any being and faith doth but declare to them what was done before To speak of them that are elected before they have faith or calling when thou wast naked and bare I saw thee polluted â—n thine owne blood then I looked upon thee Eze. 16.6.8 shall we thinke that God did not see that catalogue of sinnes in Manasseh before his conversion when as the pen-men of the Scripture wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1.21 The Lord turned not from the fiercenesse of his wrath wherewith his anger was kindled against Iudah because of all the provocation that Manasseh had provoked him withall 2 Kings 14.26 I will cause them to be removed into all kingdomes of the earth because of Manasseh Jer. 15.4 then did not God see his sinnes although afterward he repented and prayed and the Lord was entreated of him 2. Chron. 33.13 and saith Peter ye denied the Holy One and the Iust and defired a murtherer to be granted unto you and killed the Prince of life Acts 14.15 Iesus whom ye have crucified now they were pricked at the heart and three thousand of them converted Acts 2.36.37.41 then did Peter see their sins and did not God see them when as he spake but as he was moved by the Holy Ghost saith Paul no theeves nor covetous nor drunkards shall inherite the kingdome of God and such were some of you but ye are washed doth Paul see them and doth not the Spirit of God see them In time past ye walked according to the course of the world according to the prince of the power of the ayre that worketh in the children of disobedience we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and were by nature children of wrath even as
grace of God we have had our conversation in the world 2 Cor. 1.12 I have lived in all good conscience before God to this day Act. 23.1 I say the truth in Christ I lye not my conscience beareth me witnes in the Holy-ghost Ro. 9.1 Thus you see that we must not content our selves with a bare testimony but we must labour to see the work wrought in us let but thy conscience bring thee to thy tryall and thou shalt easily see how it is with thee and doe not say that this is legall teaching lest thou be filled with fancies and no reall worke of grace be wrought as yet in thee and doe not thinke that the spirit of God will worke when thou liest still and remainest an empty trunke or a dead stone no thou must be made a living stone and must worke actively by the movings of the spirit of God in thee draw me and we will runne after thee Cant. 1.3 I shall runne the wayes of thy Commandements when thou doest inlarge my heart Psal 119.32 but this they condemne as legall teaching because spirituall sloathfulnesse hath so possessed them that they will make no other triall but rest upon a bare idle perswasion or testimony but whether it came from God or the divell they know not Well they say they are justified as soone as they were borne and then as righteous as Christ and this they know from a bare testimony now it followes say they that God cannot correct them neither doth he correct for their sinne but onely to exercise their faith I grant that God doth not punish his children in wrath and fury with plagues and vengeance but as gentle corrections from a loving father for their good yet still sinne was the cause of it saith David there is no soundnesse in my flesh nor rest in my bones because of my sinne Psal 38.3 4 5. why doth the living man complaine man is punished for his sinne Lam. 3.39 then art thou made whole sinne no more lest a worse thing come unto thee John 5.14 if David a man after Gods owne heart sinne scandalously the sword shall never depart from his house 2 Sam. 12 10. God is not partiall in his corrections though Coniah were as the signet upon my right hand yet would I plucks him thence Ier. 22.24 that soule that sinneth it shall dye Ezek. 18. all things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked Eccles 9.2 the wages of sinne is death Rom. 6.23 And every sicknesse or inward griese or sorrow or outward hurts or maladies all are but parts and parcels of this wages that we receive from the service of sinne and we receive this wages by parts and parsels daily for as Adam in the day that he sinned he began to dye he received some part of that wages of sinne death seized upon him and slew him by degrees and so we as soon as we were borne began to dye and all those afflictions and sorrowes that doe befall us doe but hallen us to our end but who is freed from these things what man is he that liveth and shall not see death Ps 89.41 our Prophets are dead and our fathers are fallen asleep wise men dye as well as fooles for all must dye and be as water spile upon the ground 2 Sam. 14.14 then God doth correct and that heavily for sinne yet his corrections are sweetned to his people the sting or bitternesse of them is takâ—n out yet we shall not be freed from corrections nor death so long as we carry a body of sinne daily about with us death is passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5.12 but will they say that death is not a correction it is the king of terrours Iob 18.14 will they say death is but to exercise their faith but suppose one of them were shot with a bullet how would he exercise his faith or can they exercise their faith to prevent a sinne when they are corrected for their sinne already committed saith David before J was afflicted J went astray Psal 119.67 and Manasseh was converted in the furnace of afflictions which was the meanes to beget his faith and not to exercise it before he had it it is manifest enough that God doth correct his people for sinne if thy children forsake my law and if they breake my statutes then J will visit their transgressions with a rod and their iniquity with stripes neverthelesse J will not take away my mercy from him Psal 89.30 then let not the Antonomeans forsake Gods law lest they feele the weight of his correcting hand you have I knowne of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you for your iniquities Amos 3.2 then let them take heed how they say when they sinne tush God sees not God is not like to themselves he will reprove them and set their sinnes in order before them consider thâ—â— ye that forget God lest he teare you in â—â—eces and there be none to deliver you Psal 50.21 God will correct Jacob in measure and will not leave him altogethen unpunished Jer. 10.24.20.11 for the transgression of Jacob is all this Micah 1.5 Zachariah and Elizabeth are as famous as any in all the Scripture for being both just and righteous before God and walking in all the Commandements and Ordinances of the Lord blamelesse yet saith the Angell to him thou shalt be dumb and not able to speake which was a sore correction because thou beleevest not my words Luke 1.6.20 and Jehosaohat was a good man yet if he helpe the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord there shall wrath from the Lord be upon him nevertheles there are good things found in him 2 Chr. 19.23 Miriam was a good woman yet if she speake against Moses the anger of the Lord is kindled and behold Miriam became leprous white as snow Num. 12.1.9 10. for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne that he receiveth if ye endnre chastening whereof all are partakers then are ye sonnes and not bastards Heb. 12.6 7 8. Ephraim bemoaned himselfe thus Thou hast chastâ—sed me yet saith the Lord Ephraim is my deare sonne he is a pleasant child I doe earnestly remember him still my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy on him saith the Lord Jer. 31.18.20 it is a signe of a humble heart when the Land is scourged for sinne to acknowledge our sinnes to be the cause of it as David did saying to the Lord I even I onely have sinned and done evill indeed but as for these sheep what have they done 1 Chron. 21.17 see 2 Sam. 24.10 Againe when Nathan came to him he said I have sinned against the Lord 2 Sam. 12.13 Againe it is the brand of a reprobate when God ceaseth to correct him for his sinne I will no more punish your daughters when they commit whoredome nor your spouses when they commit adultery Ephraim is
and his Commandements are not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 But if they love God why doe they despise his Law which saith Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy might these words I command thee this day Deut. 6.5.6 and where is their love to Christ they boast so much of for he saith these words in answer to the Lawyer This is the first and great Commandement in the Law to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and vvith all thy soule and vvith all thy mind and the second is like unto it thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe on these tvvo Commandements hang all the Lavv and the Prophets Mat. 22.37.38 And Moses spake the same words of the second Table saying Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe Levit. 19.18 so that you see the sweet harmony between Christ and Moses and the same was with Paul who saith Thou shalt not commit adultery kill nor steale nor beare false witnesse nor covet love worketh no ill to his neighbour therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.9 10. then doth love drive them from the law saith David Oh hovv I love thy lavv and what followes it is my meditation all the day Psal 119.97 thy testimonies are my delight and what followes and my councellours ver 24. Unlesse thy law had beene my delight I had perished in mine affliction I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickned me ver 92.93 thaâ— is the shewing him his duty revived his dull spirits that began to flagge and faint but these men despise the Law of God because it is sent by Moses but saith Christ had ye beleeved Moses ye would have beleeved me for he wrote of me and if ye will not beleeve his writings how shall ye beleeve my words John 5.46.47 Moses told them that the seed of â—he woman should breake the serpents head Gen. 3.15 and that the Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the middest of thee of thy brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken and he shall speake unto them all that I command him Deut. 18.18 and saith the Lord This is my beloved Sonne heare him Mat. 17.5 the Apostle to set forth the faithfulnesse of Christ compares him with faithfull Moses for saith he Christ was faithfull to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithfull in all his house Heb. 3.2 then why must Moses be so despised who was as faithfull to the Lord as ever man was but yet the message was the Lords then why must Gods law be despised because you like not the messenger that brings it Againe Christ cleares the law of Moses from their false glosses but it seemes in their conceit that Moses hath so defiled it that Christ is not able to cleare it againe except he take it quite away for they are not minded to make it a rule to beleevers although they perish by swarving from it as that cursed Whoremonger that is so busie to broach those sweet tolerations for his owne vilany and for such as he vvho esteeme the law of God as a heavy burden to them and as a bridle to restraine them from their sweet pleasures in sinne but if they leave this rule they must needs offer polluted bread to the Lord and the blind and the lame and the sick in their offering vvhich is evill that their governour vvould not be pleased vvith nor accept their persons then cursed be that deceiver that hath in his flocke a male and offereth unto the Lord a corrupt thing Mal. 1.7 8 9 14. if the Lord vvrite unto you the great things of his law and you count them as a strange thing Hosea 8.12 If you doe not make the law of God your guide you must needs bring strange fire to the Lord as the Sonnes of Aaron did and perished for their presumption Levit. 10.12 for vvho required these things at your hands to tread my Courts to vvhat purpose is all that ye doe bring no more vaine oblations it is iniquity my soule hateth them they are a trouble to me I cannot beare them Isa 1.11.12.13.14 see Amos 5.25.26 He that killeth an oxe is as if he slew a man and he that sacrificeth a lambe as if he cut off a dogges necke he that offereth an oblation as if he offered swines blood and he that burneth Incense as if he blessed an Idoll the reason is because they have chosen their owne vvayes Isa 66.3 thus saith the Lord stand in the vvay and see aske for the old pathes vvhere is the good vvay and vvalke therein and ye shall finde rest for your soules but they laid vve vvill not vvalke therein Heare O earth I vvill bring evill upon this people the fruit of their owne thoughts because they have not harkened to my law but rejected it then it followes to vvhat purpose cometh their incense to me from Sheba your offerings are not acceptable nor your sacrifices sweet unto me Jer. 6.16.19.20 these people are like unto King Saul vvho forâ—ooke the commandement of the Lord and then vvould goe offer the sacrifice of his owne devising but to obey had beene better then sacrifice and to harken then the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15.22 so these men forsake the law of God and say that it is no rule for beleevers and then they say that love will move them to something unrequired not as any duty nor done in obedience to the Lord but out of free love and meere good will and curtisie but I say if it be not done by the rule and weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary but onely of their owne head God will say of them as he said of Saul Rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft and stubbornnesse is as iniquity and idolatry because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord he also hath rejected thee from being King 1 Sam. 15.23 and now O Israel what doth the Lord require of thee but to feare the Lord thy God and to walke in all his wayes and to love him and to serve him with all thy heart and with all thy soule and to keep the Commandements of the Lord and his statutes which I command thee this day for thy good Deut. 10.12 13. but they will answer that their free grace hath freed them from all duties so that they doe not stand in feare to oftend the Lord neither are they bound to walke in all his wayes nor to serve the Lord with all their heart and soule nor to endeavour to keep his lawes and statutes for their good this they say is legall and but the words of Moses and they can love God and this they can shew sufficiently from their free will unrequired of God or done in obedience to his law for it is no rule for them neither doe they acknowledge any duty to it Againe they are not acquainted with the graces of Gods
that the scripture might be fulfilled John 19.36 and of Deuteronomie as the scripture hath said John 7.38 and of Isaiah the scripture saith Rom. 10.11 and of the Psalmes that the scripture might be fulfilled and of Zechariah another scripture saith John 19.24.28.47 what shall I say Christ beginning at Moses and all the Prophets expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself then opened he their understanding that they may know the Scriptures what was written in the law of Moses in the Prophets and Psalmes concerning himselfe Luke 24.27.44 45. saith Christ search the Scriptures for they testifie of me John 3.39 now I demand what Scriptures these were if not the old Testament for the new was not yet written and so Apollos mighty in Scripture convinced the Jewes shewing by the seripture that Jesus was Christ Acts 18.24.28 and all that was written aforetime was for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 then how dare these men deny the old Testament that is so confirmed both by Christ and his Apostles in the new which is the language of their Honey-combe Some Errours that are in a little booke called the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evill discovered and answered IN that Book they make any humane writings to be Scripture and make no difference betweene play-bookes and the Scripture of truth Dan. 10.21 but all Scripture is given by anspiration and is profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good workes and the Scripture is able to make thee wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. then are the writings of men such a Scripture Again the Scripture is of no private interpretation For the prophesie came not in old time by the will of men but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy-Ghost 2 Pet. 1.20.21 then is mens writings Scripture He that shall adde to this Booke God will adde to him all the plagues that are written in this Booke or if any man shall take away any thing from the words of this Booke God shall take away his part out of the Booke of life Rev. 22.18 19. then surely the two Testaments with all their severall Chapters contained in them are the Scripture and not any humane writings whatsoever But I fear any Scripture may serve them that regard none at all for they say that they are led onely by an inward Principle so that they need no other help at all but the noble Bereans did search the Scripture daily to see whither those things were so Act. 17.11 the Scriptures should be the sole Judge of all controversies and that by which we should try all our thoughts words and actions therefore saith Christ search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 To the law to the test mony if they speak not according to that it is because there is no light in them Is 8.20 for the Pen-men of it could not erre in writing of it the Apostles were filled with the Holy-ghost they spake as the Spirit gave them utterance Act. 2.4 and when they mention that which is written in the old Testament they say thus saith the Holy-ghost Heb. 3.7 and well spake the Holy-ghost Act. 28.5 He spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets since the world began Luk. 1.70 therfore when these men say the law is written in their hearts they need not the law in the letter of it they do erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22.29 they think because they see the act of murther and theft are sins therefore they see enough but so much a carnall man may see with that remainder or reliques of the law that was in Adams heart many do by nature the things contained in the law which shew the work of the law written in their hearts Rom. 2.14.15 but yet Paul did not see the lust of heart to be a sinne but by the written law Rom. 7.7 we know but in part and we see but darkly as through a glasse 1 Cor. 13.12 we see Christ but through the lettice Cant. 2.9 and when we see our sinnes by the law if we doe not continue therein we soone forget what manner of men we were James 1.24.25 then let us obey that command and write us a coppy of the law and read therein all the dayes of our life Deut. 17.18.19 and the heart of man is deceitfull above all things and who can know it Jer. 17.9 then we had need to try our selves daily by the written law of God that we turne not aside from it and saith Paul not as though I had already attained or were already perfect but I follow after brethren I count not my selfe to have apprehended but I forget these things behind and presse toward the marke neverthelesse whereunto we have attained let us walke by the same rule let us mind the same thing Phil. 3.12 13 14 15. and as many as obey this rule peace be on them and mercy Gal. 6.16 Againe they say there is no other word of God but Christ because in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the word was made flesh John 1.1.14 but Christ is in them and so the Word is perfectly in them and they neither know nor need any other It is true Christ is the essentiall word of God being the second person in Trinity but he is not the written word of God contained in letters and sillables which are Gods owne words although many of them were spoken by men for it is said God spake all these words and said Exod. 20.1 then blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it Luke 11.28 and againe Christ said you are cleane through the word that I have spoken unto you Iohn 15.3 and Christ will sanctifie his Church by the washing of water with the word Ephe. 5.26 but neither water nor word were his person it were folly to thinke so then let the word of Christ dwell in you richly Col. 3.16 he that heareth my word and beleeveth in him that sent me hath everlasting life John 5.24 his sheep heare his voyce and follow him they have Moses and the Prophets let them heare them for they all spake Thus saith the Lord and the word of the Lord came unto me saying but if they will not heare Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luke 16.29.31 Some other Errours I find in a little Booke Intitled Christs counsell to the Angell of the Church of Laodicea discovered and answered they say that legall teachers say God will not save us without faith and repentance humility self deniall fasting mourning and prayer and the use of the Ordinances as hearing reading and receiving the Sacraments and observing the Sabbath and doing as we would be done by and a desire to