own Practises without the immediate guidance of the Spirit And therefore this Woman hath cause for ever to bless the Lord thâ—â— she turned from them if she continue in this Anointing within which is true Thirdly As to that 2 Tim. 2.17 1 Tim. 1.20 These concerned such as did blaspheme and used profane and vain bablings of whom was Alexander and also Hymeneus and Philetus who said That the Resurrection was past already and overthrew the Faith of some But no such thing as vain Bablings Blasphemy or saying That the Resurrection is past already have these Baptists proved against this Person whom they have Excommunicated And therefore it is 1st A great sin in them thus to misaply the Scriptures against such as they were never intended And 2dly A great presumption in them to assume an Authority from the Apostles words 1 Tim. 1.20 to deliver up to Satan when they have no Commission Power or Authority given them of God so to do as the Apostles had c. 3dly What great folly and madness do they shew and bewray in Rejecting Excommunicating or Delivering up to Satan such as have before rejected and denyed them and refused to have any Communion with them as this Hester for some time hath for such as were rejected and cast out of the true Church they were either such as would have continued among them in scandalous Practises as Fornication c. 1 Cor. 5. Or 2dly Such false Brethren as by Blasphemies or Heresies troubled the Church and would have sown Sedition and Strife amongst them for Testimonies in truth against such we own Fourthly As to that of Acts 3.22 23. It 's on the behalf of Christ that great Prophet â—hom every one ought to hear in all things And it 's said Every Soul that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People c. Now it is not every Soul that will not hear you Baptists and come under your Water and Ordinances as you impose them that must therefore be deâ—troyed however you pretend to deliver such to Satan but every Soul that will not hear Christ that great Prophet of God in all things that Soul must be cut off And can you say that you have ever heard the Voice of Christ who pretend your selves to be his Church which we both deny you to be As also we deny that you have any Call from Christ to the Ministry Do you judge that none hear his Voice but such as you plunge in Water And that all must be condemned who cannot own you in your imposed Shadows called Ordinances upon pretence of the Scripture being your only Rule when you never yet did either prove or demonstrate that ever you heard the immediate Voice of Christ or had a Call from him for your plunging People under Water which is but a Shadow Much less can we believe that you hear him in all things else which you practise and impose for Christ is the Life and Substance and they who hear him in all things receive Life and the One Spiritual Baptism which yours is not John Newman set against himself HIS Book and corrupt Principles being Answered by John Newman himself His Principles and Contradictions are Collected and set opposite in his own words and the Pages of his Book cited where they are and briefly Noted and Annimadvertized upon particularly as followeth Whereto is added Tho. Danson W. Kiffin and Jer. Ives their Contradictions J. N. his Contradictions THE Scriptures of the two Testaments is properly and principally called the Word of God and that distinct from Christ This is asserted above twenty times over Pages 3 4 5 7 8 9.10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 22 42. Jesus Christ in Scripture is stiled the Word of God a Name that 's given to him his Name is called The Word of God Rev. 19.13 but then again to shufle off this J.N. adds Christ is not alwayes really that which in Scripture he is called comparatively He is called a Door a Vine c. pag. 3 46 47 49. Animadversion Surely the holy Men who spake and writ Scriptures from the Spirit of God knew how to speak properly and truly better than J.N. who in effect reflects on them all as for speaking improperly what bold presumpâ—ion and pride is it in him when they called God or Christ or his Name the Word and said In the beginning was the Word c. Therefore Christ was principally the Word for the Scriptures were not in the beginning nor do they any where call themselves the Word as improperly J. N. doth For Scriptures signifie Writings And is not Christ really the Door in the sense intended to them that enter in by him Howbeit he was really the Word before his Name was held forth in the many Parables J. N's Contrad The Scriptures of the two Testaments in which is contained the Will of God properly and principally the Word c. Or Way of God in which is contained the will of God p. 5. The Prophet saith God's Word is a Lanthorn to his feet and a Light unto his paths Psal. 119.100 105. Animad Christ is the Way the Word and Light and not the Writings they are not Christ And the Word that was a Lanthorn and Light to David was within him before he wrote the words and when much of the Scriptures of the two Testaments were unwritten And said he I have hid thy Word in my heart that I may not sin against thee Psal. 119. J. N's Contrad The Scriptures of the Two Testaments principally called the WORD distinct from Christ. God's perfect Way enlightned David p. 4. and this is called the Word Psal. 18.28 30. Thou wilt light my Candle the Lord will enlighten my darkness Animad God's perfect enlightening Way and Word and the Light and Candle of the Righteous which was Spiritual Living and Powerful was before the Scriptures were written J. N's Contrad The Scriptures principally called the Word The words that God hath spoken by his holy Prophets blessed Son and Apostles p. 3. Animad Is there no distinction between the Word and words In the beginning was the Word but since were the words spoken and Scriptures written Besides the holy Prophets and Apostles who preached the Word from the immediate Power of God were living witnesses of what they spoke and their Ministry was attended with the same Power and the plain Evidence of the Spirit went along with it which was more than barely the writings received by tradition J. N's Contrad The Commands of God in the first Testament or Scriptures of the Prophets the Word p. 7. I shall labour to prove That the Scriptures of the new Testament is also called the Word distinct from Christ. The Teaching and Preaching Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures is called the Ministry of the Word is stiled is called the Word of God Act. 4.25 26 27. 5.45 Animad The Word was in the beginning before the Commands Words or Writings
by the mighty Power of God to be changed beyond the reach of man's natural reason for any to shew themselves so nice curious and intruding in these matters with unscriptural and unlearned Questions or presumptuous Assertions to shew themselves wise above what is written as many of these forward Baptists have done they cannot therein be gratified for both their foolish and unlearned Questions are to be avoided and they may be answered as the Angel did to the Devil when he disputed about the body of Moses The Lord rebuke thee c. And as the Apostle did those fools who enquired what body the dead are raised with 1 Cor. 15.35 36 37. And it 's manifest hypocrisie in Men to pretend the Scripture to be their Rule when they 'l not keep to the terms and language thereof But at a publick Dispute between some of Vs and some Baptists at Chersey in Surry when a Question about the body of Christ in Heaven was ignorantly obtruded by W. Burnet his Brother Jer. Ives in Answer to my treating of Christ's various Appearances after He rose said What change or alteration His body might have We cannot determine nor what glory He is in for to enquire with what body the dead are raised is absurd c. Yet for all this how apt are many of them to urge their unlearned Questions in these matters notwithstanding the great Confusion vain Imaginations that many Professors have fallen into through their unlearned Questions and perverse Disputes about the Body of Christ. If tâ—is were considered it might be some stop to them from â—uch intruding as How He appeared among the Disciples when the Doors were shut Some of the Professors have said It might be that He came in at the Chimney top Others It might be He glyded in at the Key-hole of the Door Others That He might come in at the Door and hold their eyes in thâ— mean time that they could not see when He opened it And because flâ—sh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven many Professors have said That Christ's Body in Heaven is a body of flesh and bones without blood in it And also some of the Priests have affirmed Christ to be in Heaven with a carnal body But these are all unscriptural Suppositions and Imaginations of vain minds who neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of Godliness nor the Mysteries of Christ or his Image revealed within but by their corruptions and perverting Scripture endeavour to shut both God and Christ out of his People and so to confine and limit the Holy One who is not to be limited as this J. N. doth J.N. If he Jesus Christ be with the Father then he is not in Man a feigned Christ and Light within pag. 47 66 72. Contradiction Let your Conversation be in Heaven from whence we look for a Saviour Answ. Why Doth His being with the Father or at His right hand in Heaven hinder Him from being in his People This is a gross Error and contrary to plain Scripture 2 Cor. 13. Know you not how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates and this is neither a feigned Christ nor a feigned Light as blasphemously and scornfully he words it And what doth J.N. think or imagine concerning God His right hand and being And Christ at God's right hand that he thus would exclude limit and seem to confine them out of all men Doth not this oppose the Infiniteness and Omnipresence of God and Jesus Chriâ—â—â— â—nd bring them under the limitation of finite creatures an◠〈◊〉 their Deity whereas Christ ascended far above all Heavâ—â—â— that he might fill all things Eph. 4. And He being the expâ—â—â—s Image of his Fathers substance Now if God and his right hand be so carnally thought on under such a limitation as before Wherein doth J.N. and his Brethren differ from those old Hereticks Andaeus and the Anthropomorphites as they are called who were Monks that Inhabited the Deserts of Egypt who thought that God had a body and was like a Man in shape misconstruing that saying Let US make Man after Our Image c. Upon whose gross Opinion it rose That God hath been painted like an Old Man with a gray beard c. As also the late blasphemous Dreamers Reeve and Mugleton who have named themselves the two last Witnesses have affirmed God to be of the form bigness and stature of a Man and so having hands and parts of a Man and Christ as such at his right hand they denying God to be an infinite Spirit But against all such carnal gross conceits We testifie and confess to God's Infiniteness and Christs Ascension both into Heaven and far above all Heavens that He might fill all things and that God both dwells and walks in his People and his right hand of Power is where he is and Câ—rist there inseparably with and in the Father His being so Anointed Dignified and Exalted doth not exclude Him out of His People whose Conversation is also with him in Heaven And David said O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee and thy right hand hath holden me up Psal. 17.7 18.35 20.6 60.5 63.8 73.23 So that neither the Infinite God nor his Son nor his Right hand of strength can be circumscribed or limitted into a separation or remoteness from the Children of the Light who are saved by the right hand of God whose Hand and Power is spiritual J. N. From Rev. 1.7 Those that pierced him in his body of flesh shall see that body visibly come again Answ. These are not the words of Scripture but added although to add or diminish be forbidden under a penalty Rev. 22.18 19. yet this man's presumption leads him to incur that See also for Answer to him Rev. 1.7 8. 13.14 16. In none of which is Jesus Christ either called or represented as a body of flesh blood and bones visibly to come again but that he is Alpha and Omega the first and the last vers 11. And Christ in the dayes of his flesh wherein he visibly appeared to the World said Yet a little while and the World seeth me no more Joh. 14.19 But his second Coming and Appearance without sin to Salvation I own and witness and that he is therein to be seen spiritually in his Kingdom Father's Glory which is an invisible Glory not seen carnally mark that Howbeit his Appearance shall be universally seen both to the joy of the Righteous and universal conviction and condemnation of the wicked who have rejected his Light within and his saving Appearance thereby made manifest Yea every Eye shall see him both of good and bad both those that have waited for his second Coming without sin to Salvation and they also which have pierced or crucified him which all those in general are chargeable with as really as his Persecutors that pierced him outwardly who profess his
of it and neither of them owning the Scriptures as we have them and never like to be Converted by such shallow Contenders and impertinent Preachers as thou art And as for the Law and the Testimony thou speakest of pag. 125. they are yet unknown to thee for the Law is Light and the Testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophesie Prov. 6.23 Rev. 19.10 which were before the Scriptures And How are Spirits to be tryed as John exhorted 1 Joh. 4.12 To this thou sayest The holy Touchstone by which they are to be tryed is that golden Rule by which the noble Bereans tried the Doctrine of Paul even the Scriptures to know by what Spirit he spake And then thou addest By this we shall know the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of Error and not to prove a Spirit by a Spirit within From whence thou observest That that Spirit which will not be tried by the Scriptures is the Spirit of Antichrist p. 125. Answ. What gross Ignorance Error and perverting the Scriptures hast thou herein shewed thy self guilty of For first Where provest thou in all the Rule thou pretendest That the Scriptures are the Touchstone and golden Rule to try the Spirits by Produce us plain Scripture for this thy Doctrine or else confess thy Error 2dly The tryal of Spirits is more mysteriâ—us than meerly the trying of Doctrines by comparing them with Scriptures for many false Spirits bring Scripture who are not discerned to be such without the Spirit of God which searcheth all things 3dly John did not say That the Scriptures were the Touchstone by which they were to try the Spirits whether they were of God But he saith plainly These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you but the Anointing which you have received of Him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things c. 1 Joh. 2.20 26 27. Now then the tryal of Spirits being â—uch a weighty thing which they were concerned in this Unction in them was the Touchstone and that is the Spirit of Antichrist that opposeth this 4thly The Scripture doth not say That the Bereans tried Pauls Spirit by the Scriptures but that they received the Word with all readiness of mind mark that and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Acts 17. It is not said They searched them to try Pauls Spirit by them for their receiving the Word with all readiness of mind implyes some good belief they had of the Spirit in Paul by which he preached And when they had received the Word they daily searched the Scriptures not with prejudice against the true Ministers or Light within as many of you do but simply to see whether those things were so Now this kind of searching them we own the Word being received within which gives the understanding of the Scriptures And as for thy scoffing at the word Pure Seed calling it New-coyned without Book c. pag. 97. And thy saying Which Seed we vainly say is Christ begotten in us c. p. 98. Thou hast scofft herein without any ground and thereby discovered thy own folly For Is not the Incorruptible Seed a pure Seed and doth not the Apostle call the Seed Christ Gal. 3.16 And is not Christ in the true Believer where the Body is dead because of sin But thou that so nicely carps at words as pure Seed which is Christ within as being without Book what Scripture or Book thereof hast thou for thy calling the Scriptures the only Rule for Salvation for all men to the Worlds end and no other the Touchstone the golden Rule to try or know the Spirit of Truth from the Spirit of Error the ground of Faith c. Produce plain Scripture for these words or else confess thy Error who so exâ—ctly pretendest the Scripture thy Rule how dost thou square thy work by it what Rule canst thou produce for us to believe thou speakest truth when thou givest those Characters of the Scriptures which are not to be produced in them And was not the end of Paul's labouring with the Jews to turn them from Darkness to the Light within which thou contemptuously callst a pretended Spirit p. 127. Was his perswading them to believe in Christ in opposition to his Light within surely no but all in order to turn them to his Spirit or Light within But thou hast confessed his perswading them was concerning the Kingdom of God to teach them to believe on the Name of Jesus and direct them to the Kingdom of God see how manifestly thou art here Contradicted by thy own words for was not the Kingdom of God within Luke 17.21 And the Name of Jesus and its Power thou seest not who hast vilified His Light within and the Scriptures thou citest are against thee as that of Rom. 9 10 11 Chap. for both the Righteousness the Word of Faith and Grace were inward and spiritual Again To prove that the Scriptures make manifest the Righteousness of God thou citest Rom. 1.17 which is thy gross abuse of that Scripture for it saith that I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God unto Salvation and therein is his Righteousness revealed from Faith to Faith c. It is not said the Scriptures are the Power of God for the Power of God or Gospel was preached to Abraham before the Scriptures were written And to thy saying Faith hath a holy End which it leadeth to even the Salvation of Souls not now in man but at the last day when our bodies shall be raised out of the dust p. 123. And where provest thou this Doctrine Is not the Soul in man And is not its Salvation deliverance and safety from sin wrought within by the Power and Arm of God How dost thou essay to frustrate the End of the true Faith which is Salvation whilst thou sayest It leads to the Salvation of Souls not now in man but at the last day when our bodies shall be raised out of the dust And when thinkest thou shall that be Must all the Sâ—ints have their Hope Expectation and Faith for Salvation of their Souls unanswered till then what is become of their Souls all this while since their decease if they have not received the End of their Faith to wit Salvation in them Surely thou art yet in the dust and death and daâ—kness have power over thy mind or else thou wouldst never shew thy self such an ignorant Papist as here thou hast done for thou hast though at unawares run thy self into rank Popery putting Salvation of Souls so far off till thou knowest not when according to thy earthly and carnal conceits which thou wouldest have us believe for gracious Truths which thou sayest Quakerism doth not own unless in a Mystery to deceive But this is not thy first slanderous Conclusion against the Quakers who only oppose the graceless Errors and
path but only where the Scriptures are Or Presbyterian or Independant Teachers or such-like go What a pitiful narrow Spirit and Principle is this among them And had not those Gentiles spoken of Rom. 2. those things contained in the Law written in their hearts when they had not the Law or Scriptures outwardly And were they not either accused or excused before God by his Law written in their hearts T.D. They not walking up to the Light they had was the cause of their Codemnation and they were left without excuse T. D's Contradiction But it was not sufficient to lead them to Life or Salvation it was a Natural Light c. Answ. Then from this it follows That all was a case whether they walked up to the Light they had or not they were like to be Condemned do what they could a sad Doctrine charging God with no less than Cruelty and Injustice then for what Reason was the Light given to them and what was God's End therein if it was insufficient â—ow should they be left without excuse And for what end were they brought into the world if a capacity of Salvation was not afforded them As to his calling it a natural Light what rule hath he in Scripture for so calling it For the Law in their hearts was spiritual and it 's said When they do by Nature it is not said By a Natural Light and what Nature was it by which they obeyed the Law of God in the heart Surely it was not a Nature repugnant to the Law And when I demanded of these men to produce us that Scripture that saith The Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith and it shall end the Controversie Ald. H. Answ. I will in the last of the Revelations If any man shall add to this Rule c. Obs. Here he was mistaken for it is not said this Rule but these things c. the words of the Book c. see Revelations 22.18 19. T. D's Arg. That which the Scriptures direct to as the Rule of Faith that is to be the only Rule But the Scriptures direct to themselves Ergo. Answ. The first part I own that which the Scriptures direct to is the Rule and that is the Light within the Spirit or Unction from the Holy One 1 Joh. 2. that gave them forth therefore I deny that the Scriptures direct to themselves as the only Rule T. D. That the Scripture directs to its self as the only Rule and no other I prove from Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures c. Rep. Christ did not say the Scriptures were the only Rule but rather reproved these unbelievers whom these men resemble in these words viz. In them to wit the Scriptures ye think to have Eternal Life and ye will not come to Me that ye might have Life vers 40. T. D. The more sure word of Prophesie 2 Pet. 1.19 was the Scriptures c. Rep. Here he hath confounded and perverted the Scriptures as if the word of Prophesie and the Writings and Prophesies were all one and as if it were to be read You have more sure Scriptures of the Prophets whereas they were not more sure than the Scriptures of the Apostles and the word of the Prophesie or Holy Ghost that moved in the Prophets to speak or write Scripture was before the Prophesies of it or the Scriptures were written the Word came to the Prophets before they Prophesied it was in their hearts and the same Word now appears in many as a Light shining in a dark place whereunto ye shall do well to take heed until the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 Obs. So this Light within was in all Ages and still is the most absolute perfect and universal Rule to all the Righteous who believed in the Light and were the Children of the Day where God hath appointed the Great Light of Himself to Rule His People in Faith and Practise At the Second Discourse which was the 20th of the 11th Month 1669. Will. Kiffin and his Brother Jeremiah Ives with some others appeared against us Some of their Contradictions follow W.K. THe Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith from 2 Tim. 3.15 16. the Spirit considered as a Rule is absolutely excluded but as a Director as my Way and my Guide are distinct c. as before Obs. First This Scripture cited by him proveth not his Assertion to wit That the Scriptures are the only Rule Secondly His so absolute excluding the Spirits Rule is contrary to this Scripture which saith All Scripture given by inspiration of God c. the particle is being added Here the Inspiration of God is owned to give Scripture as also it 's the Man of God that knows the use thereof who doth not exclude Divine Inspiration or the Holy Spirit from being his Guide Rule and Way for he walks in the Spirit So that if Rule and Way be one and the same as here they are rendered that which is the only Way to Life and Salvation must needs be the only Rule and surely neither Christ nor his Light or holy Spirit within must be excluded from being this Way in which we are to walk And now mark how Jer. Ives coming into the Meeting after his Brother W. K. had thus absolutely excluded the Spirit did positively contradict him Jer. Ives Our saying the Scriptures are the only Rule doth not exclude the Spirit or the Spirit 's Illumination the Scripâ—ures including the Spirit are the only Rule c. that is our meaning Obs. See how manifestly they have contradicted one another here the one wholly excluding the Spirit as a Rule and the other including it But this Jer. Ives was not aware of his Brothers having excluded the Spirit before he came in upon which we urging them to confess their Error and Contradiction Jer. Ives endeavoured to salve up the business as well as he could saying We are reconciled And in order thereto he proceeded thus viz. J. I. Our saying the Scriptures are the only Rule does not exâ—â—â—â—e every thing else or the Spirits Illumination from being a Rule any more than to say God Only hath Immortality doth exclude all else from having Immortality c. Obs. Still he could not hide himself from contradicting his Brother W.K. and the terms of their own Question For if the Spirit 's Illumination be included as in Rule then to say the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith is not true and wholly to exclude the Spirit as a Rule is erroneous And to instance in this case That God only hath Immortality which is dwelling in the Light 1 Tim. 6.16 Was this a fit comparison for their Assertion of the Scriptures being the only Rule For hath not God Immortality above and before all others And hath he not it only dwelling in the Light And have any it out of him or out of his Light But hath he it not only as more eminently and above all others As he is
above all and through all and in all his own Eph. 4.6 And he that dwelleth on High and inhabiteth Eternity dwells with such also as are poor in Spirit and tremble at his Word Oh! how ignorant are these Opposers of the Scriptures and of the Power of God W's Doct. I do believe That essentially from Eternity the Scripture was as really God as a man's mind is himself before it is revealed so before that Spirit that proceedeth from Father and Son gave forth the Scripturâ— the Scripture was really God Can the Quakers shew you That Christ the Word is not Scripture c. pag. 17. Thus far his Assertion Answ. Let this be kept on Record for his Brethren to peruse and for all other that reade this to judge of that the Scripture was really God from eternity yea and that essentially as much as to say the Essence of the Scripture is the Essence of God What say you Baptists and Professors do you own this doctrine If you do not then give forth your Testimony against him and it and correct and stop such Nâ—vices and ignorant men amongst you from medling with Controversies and from scribling their Confusion and Blasphemies against us For do you own that the Scriptures are God or that the Scriptures made all things Or when you carry a Bible in your pocket do you carry God and his essence there Is not this Rantism in the highest that your Brother hath affirmed and doth it not tend to lead into Atheism let Truth in all judge Many of this Opposers Impertinencies gross Lyes Slanders and Abuses against us called Quakers in his Pamphlet I here pass by my recital of these few passages of his being that the rest of his Brethren may take notice thereof and be cautioned not to suffer enmity and darkness to lead them to war against the Light and its Children as too many have done lest that shame and confusion of face instead of Justification and Peace with the Lord be their reward Here followeth a Copy of the Baptists Bill of Excommunication WEE the Church of Christ meeting near Bow of which you Hester Bird were once a Member Do by these presents signifie and declare That you have turned out of the right way of the Lord both in Doctrine and Practice viz. Departing from the Foundation Doctrine of Justification by Grace From the Resurrection of this Body The Personal coming of the Lord Jesus And the Holy Ordinances of Christ viz. Baptism Communion of Saints and the Lords Supper And you having been by Us or some of Us Admonished and remaining Incorrigible WEE do hereby declare That you are gone out from Us because you were not of Us having rejected the Word of the Lord and Us his People WEE also do reject you according to the Sentence of the Lord exprest by the Apostles in these Scriptures mentioned in the Margent George Barrett Benj. Dennis Edw. Annesley Rich. Mathyson Ralph Chapman Signed in the Name and by the Appointment of the Church the 17 th of the 7 th Month 1669 Here followeth a Copy of the said Hester Bird now Hester Andrews her Answer GEorge Barret Benjamin Dennis and the rest concerned I do not own you to be the Church of Christ as you call your selves For the true Church never gave out such a false Bill of Excommunication as you have against Me therefore your pretended Authority therein I deny Whereas you falsly charge me with turning from the Communion of Saints I have sensibly known and felt the Communion of Saints blessed be the Lord since I have been from amongst you As to the Personal Reign of Christ I never owned it when I was amongst you but his Spiritual Appearance I am a witness of Your outward Bread and Wine satisfies not the Soul I have had more peace when I did not touch your Shadows than when I did As to the Water-Baptism I never found any thing in it I was the same when I came out as when I went in Blessed be the Lord I have known one Baptism the Baptism of Christ viz. being Baptized with the Holy Ghost and with Fire for he will throughly purge his Floor As to departing from the Foundation Doctrine of Justification by Grace as you falsly and slanderously charge me I know the Foundation of God standeth sure and another Foundation can no man lay than that is already laid which is Christ in us which is the Hope of Glory by whose Grace I am Justified freely and this I find to be the Doctrine of Christ and his Ministers which I own A Word from the Lord unto you That you would come out from among your dark Customs of this World and come to the Appearance of Christ in you As to your Excommunication it 's known I came from you some years ago take heed your Censure falls not on your own heads but it shews of what spirit you are Your charge of departing from the Resurrection of this Body as you state it It s neither truth nor sense nor have you told me your meaning For what Resurrection and Body have I come to that I have departed from Howbeit the Resurrection I believe according to the Testimony of Christ and his Ministers see Joh. 11.25 1 Cor. 15.42 to the end And Christ's Answer to the Saduces Mat. 22.29 30. H. A. A few brief Observations on the Scriptures in the Margent of the Baptists Bill or rather Bull against the said Hester Bird alias Andrews which they have perverted and misapplyed As FIrst That of Jer. 8.8 9. was against the Rebellious Jews who were backslidden and knew not the Judgment of the Lord and had rejected his Word who were all given to Covetousness and to deal falsly from the People to the Priest vers 7 10. None of which Evils have these angry Baptists proved against this Person whom they have Rejected or Excommunicated for she did first reject them as she was perswaded she had good reason for and that therein she did not reject the Word of the Lord but such as have rejected it whom she denyes to be either Called by Christ to the Ministry or to be of his Church Secondly That 1 Joh. 2.19 was against those Antichrists who went out from the true Apostles and Church where note these Baptists have neither proved their Call to the Ministry nor themselves to be either true Apostles or a true Church nor yet Convicted this Woman to be such an one mentioned 1 Joh. 2.18 19. for she is now directed to and owneth the Vnction within from the Holy One which preserves out of Antichrist's Delusions Lyes and Deceits c. which if she continues in and obey to the end she shall continue in the Son and in the Father and not deny Jesâ—â— Christ or the Father as the Antichrists did vers 22 23. But this Anointing within these Baptists have never turned People unto that they might follow and obey it in all things for they impose upon People their
were given forth the Commands are called words that God spake Is not there a manifest difference between the Word that made all things and the words spoken or writ As also between the Ministry of the Word which is the preaching Jesus Christ and the Writings of the Two Testaments which this ignorant man makes no distinction between for was not the Apostle Paul a Minister of the Word though not of the Letter Did not he distinguish between them which this confused Opposer hath not done J. N's Contrad The Scriptures in which is contained the will of God in order to man's Salvation is properly and principally called the Word and not Christ. There are a People labour to blind this truth by affirming that Christ is the Word of God and not the Scriptures for they say The Scriptures are the Sayings or the Words of God Christ cannot be understood to be the Word of God whereas some do affirm Christ to be the VVord of God Such an Assertion would make Christ a Monster rather than a compleat God and Man c. p. 12 13 15 17 17 49. I shall freely grant That Christ is called by this Name the Word of God Christ being the Word of God Christ may be said to be in men He may be called the Word of God because he will be that dreadful Executioner By the Word of God's Eternal Power c. He shall by by the Word of God slay all his enemies in this he may be truly called the Word of God p. 14 46 47. Animad Thou art a blind Opposer who perverts and darkens Truth with thy monstrous prejudice who denies Christ to be the Word of God and blasphemously sayest Such an Assertion would make Christ a Monster c. Yet for all this thou shalt freely grant Christ to be called the VVord yea the VVord of God's Eternal Power doest thou herein make him a Monster And did not the holy Men of God call him the Word And did they blind the Truth or make a Monster of Christ supposest thou Must we reject their Testimonies as improper and monstrous and believe thine as only proper which is so repugnant to the Scriptures which are the Writings that do contain sayings or words of God which to affirm is no blinding of truth And where provest thou these words in the Scriptures That the will of God is contained in them Is not the will of God Infinite and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain God So take thy Contradictions back again viz. That to affirm Christ to be the Word of God is to make him a Monster yet I shall freely grant Christ is called the Word of God the Word of God's Eternal Power J. N's Contrad The Scriptures properly and principally called the VVord The Word of God therein contained Or the Teachings therein contained The Will and Mind of God contained in the Scriptures p. 19 45 49. Animad See the Contradiction and falshood of these for one while to say the Scriptures are the VVord another while they contain the Word and Mind of God these are different and thou mightest as well say that God is contained in the Scriptures as to say the Word and his Mind and Will is and so grosly go to circumscribe and limit him who is Infinite and unlimitable who is the Eternal Word Mark also how J. N. his Doctrine of the Scriptures being principally called the VVord is absolutely confuted by himself in what follows J. N's Contrad How was Heaven and Earth and the VVorld made by the VVord of God and also by the same VVord are kept in store p. 48. The wicked shall be destroyed by this VVord The Rod of his mouth Isa. 11.11 The Spirit of his mouth Rev. 2.12 The sharp Sword with two edges The word of God's Grace in convincing and converting of Souls quick and powerful sharper than a two edged Sword In this sense Christ may be called the VVord Animad But surely the Scriptures are not all this nor ever had this sense given of them that is here given of the Word which made Heaven and Earth and keeps them in store and this did not the Scriptures J. N's Contrad The Scriptures principally called the VVord of God may be corrupted by man This Word may be and is corâ—upted by man c. p. 19 20. Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever p. 57 c. Contradiction again This maketh nothing to prove this word here to be Christ. Animad The Incorruptible Seed or Word by which we are born again is not the Scriptures which have been corrupted by such Perverters and Corrupters of them as thou art who goes to set them in Christ's place and yet Hypocrite like art not willing to keep to the language and terms or Doctrines of them J. N's Contrad The Scripâ—ures are an absolute perfect Rule for all men c. unto the end of the world Faith is bâ—gotten by Preaching the VVord with the work of his blessed Spirit Christ the Way to bring us to Life c. pag. 42 43 50. Animad The Spirit of Truth leads into all Truth therefore this Spirit or Christ within is both the Guide Way and Rule to all that are Spirtiually minded All men have not the Scriptures to the World's end but Christ is given both for a Covenant and Light for Salvation to the ends of the Earth J. N. his Idolatry in exalting the Scriptures into the place of Christ. The Scriptures the enlightening way of the Lord The perfect way of God A Light unto his paths p. 4 5. The Gospel The Seed in the hearts The will of God in order to Salvation pag. 11 17 20. Eternal Life therein viz. in Scriptures pag. 24. The Scripture's an absolute perfect Rule in order to man's Salvation for all men to walk by and none other pag. 24 25 26 27 28 29. The Scriptures may be corrupted by man False Teachers corrupted the Scriptures The Scriptures may and is corrupted by man p. 19 20. The Devil taketh out of mens hearts the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Animad To the first part these are high Names put upon the Scriptures but not so proved thereby For the Enlightening perfect Way and Word of the Lord God the Gospel the Seed the Will of God Eternal Life c. were before the Scriptures were written and did preceed the writing thereof it them who spake or writ them as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and Eternal Life is in Christ not contained in the Scriptures as the unbelieving Jews vainly thought Joh. 5. who set up the Scriptures above Christ the Life And the Scriptures are not the absolute sole Rule for Salvation and none other especially if they be corrupted by the Devil and Wicked men But the Rule of the spiritual mind is spiritual of that Spirit which leads the true Believers into all truth For that which must be owned