but deny a Trinity which is to confess the same thing in English and deny it in Latine Trinitas being only Latine for the Three they Profess to Believe in the Holy Three or Trinity of Father Word and Spirit as Penn tells you in his Key p. 15. but not as Three Persons But if not Three Persons What Three are they But for your satisfaction give Ear to the Ancients in their Ministry to that end hear what their Great and First Apostle George 〈◊〉 says in his Great Mystery p. 246. who earnestly opposed his Adversary one Christopher Wade for affirming That the Holy Ghost was a Person and that there was a Trinity of Three Persons before Christ was Born The Scripture saith he doth not tell People of a Trinity nor Three Persons bâ—t the Common-Prayer-Mass-Book speaks of Three Persons brought in by thy Father the Pope And Will. Penn tells us in his Sandy Foundation p. 13. Printed 1668. That if we pretend to Credit the Scriptures we must necessarily Conclude our kind of Trinity a Fiction And lest the Reader should not be satisfied with his Scripture Proofs and Interpretations he labours hard to refute it from right Reason so called by him as in p. 13 14. to give you a Taste of them The Divine Persons are either Finite or Infinite if the first then something Finite is inseparable to the Infinite Substance whereby something Finite is in God If the last then Three distinct Infinites Three Omnipotents Three Eternals and so Three Gods Secondly If each Person be God and that God Subsists in Three Persons then in each Person are Three Persons or Gods and from Three they will Increase to Nine and so ad Infinitum c. Again in p. 32. he tells us That our Trinity or our imagined Trinity as he Terms it in p. 16. has not so much as a Foundation in the Scriptures it being but Man's Invention and doubtless it hath occasioned Idolatry See further George â—â—itehead and Three other Quakers in their Book Entituled Ishmael and his Mother cast out p. 10. where is this Passage He i. e. Mr. Townsend a Minister in Norwich against whom they Disputed is shut up with the Three Persons in perpetual Darkness for the Lake and the Pit I shall add here nothing by way of Inference but leave it to the Reader to judge whether they own the Trinity being Those Three Divine Witnesses that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit But what Heaven is that which the Quakers mean not the Glorious Heaven above but it is the Heaven within thee where these Three Divine Witnesses are for says Geo. Fox in his Gr. Myst p. 214. There is none have a Glory and a Heaven but within them Again see his Trial at Lancaster Assize c. p. 21. I was moved to Pray and the Thundering Voice answered I have glorified thee and will glorifie thee again and I was filled so full of Glory that my Head and my Ears was filled full of it Mark Reader here was Thunder within Glory within yea full of Glory aurum tenus up to the Ears And says W. Penn in his Rejoinder p. 179. To deny the Locality of Heaven is not very offensive and that it looks too Carnal and indeed Mahometanism viz. to assert it Now Reader let this serve to Construe their meaning in their Pamphlet when they speak of Three Divine Witnesses bearing Record in Heaven that is to say the Heaven within them Quest Do you believe the Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God or that Jesus Christ is truly God and Man Answ Yes we verily Believe that Jesus Christ is truly God and Man according as Holy Scripture Testifie of him viz. God over all Blessed for Ever the True God and Eternal Life the One Mediator between God and Man even the Man Christ Jesus OBSERVATION Now let us see whether they believe as they say or whether it be only Paint or Varnish to deceive the Hearts of the Simple To that end see Geo. Whitehead s Nature of Christianity p. 41. where he thus speaks That Christ Existeth outwardly Bodily without us at God s Right Hand What Scripture proof hath he for these Words See also his Truth Defending the Quakers p. 22. where he affirms Christ s coming in the Flesh to be but a Figure or Example Which is also the saying of R. Hubbertborn and Justified by G. Whitehead in his Judgment Fixed p. 336. who tells you plainly what Man Christ the Quakers own i. e. their Light within only His words are these Therefore the Man Christ Jesus was before he came in the Body or Flesh And Christopher Atkinson in his Book called The Sward of the Lord drawn which was written as he pretended from the Mouth of the Lord and this I cannot omit quoting for tho his Person was disowned and denied after he was Hanged for Felony by some of the Quakers at West-Dereham Church at the Conference yet I never heard it before No he was a good Man then and Inspired however fallible afterwards and therefore those his Writings must be Valuable and Venerable and that they are by them so accounted is evident from matter of fact for when the Quakers were pressed by a Clergyman and others there present at the Second Day Conference to reject and disown his Writings under their Hands they would not be brought to such a reasonable compliance I must therefore beg leave to insist upon this Book where in p. 5. he hath these words Your imagined God beyond the Stars and your Carnal Christ is utterly denied and testified against by the Light And that this Christ is God and Man in one Person it is a Lie And again Because as Will. Penn says it is not reasonable that a Body of Men should be Concluded by the Word or Act of any one Member vid. his Brief Answer to a false and foolish Libel c. p. 25. Printed 1678. I shall therefore add One or Two more to that end see G. Fox Gr. Myst p. 206. If there be any other Christ but he that was Crucified within he is the false Christ And says Smith in his Primer p. 8. Printed 1668. They that are false Ministers preach Christ without and bid people believe in him as he is in Heaven above but they that are true Ministers they preach Christ within and direct People to wait to feel him in themselves And in p. 9. he affirms That these have no more fellowship than the East hath with the West Nay Will. Penn in his Address to Protestants p. 119. makes Christ nothing but Meekness Justice Patience Charity and Vertue in perfection In short nothing but an Holy Princiciple as he elsewhere hath it Now whether these Quotations do not amount to a plain denial of the Humanity of Christ let the Reader Judge whatever in this Pamphlet or in Will Penn's Key is pretended to the contrary But yet once more to corroborate
AN ANTIDOTE Against the Venom of Quakerism BEFORE I enter upon the Examination of the Quakers Principles as here Professed and as I suppose Owned by them I shall very briefly desire the Reader to take Notice what is understood by the Term Christianity or what is necessary in a strict and proper Sense to Entitle a Man to be a Christian For the making up then this good Composition it is not enough for a Man to know and acknowledge God as the One only true God Creator of all things to Depend upon and to be Subject to him to Love him our Neighbour and our Selves to walk Soberly and Honestly and to practice all those other Duties which by the Light and Law of Nature he may be Convinced of for these a Man may believe and be consormable thereto and yet be no Christian For who doubts but that some of the Heathens thus far believed and practiced who were not only altogether ignorant of Christ but also vehemently opposed him and the Christian Name Tho' according to Will Penn's Notion of Christianity in his Address to Protestants p. 119. Second Edition these must be Christians For what is Christ says he but Meekness Justice Mercy Patience Charity and Vertue in persection Nay even the Jews themselves who were once God's Chosen People and must be Saved thro' Faith in the Messiah that was to come cannot in a strict Sense be called Christians their State being no Christian State however Obedient they might be to the Legal Dispersation they lived under yet they could no from thence be Entituled Christians For to Entitle a Man to be a Christian 〈◊〉 must necessarily believe 〈◊〉 to be already come nay that Particâ—â—â—â— and Numericâ—â— Man Christ Jesus who was Born of the Viâ—gin Mary and was of the Seed of Abrahaâ— according to the Flesh to be the Christ 〈◊〉 God that was promised to come in due time that this very Man was Crucified Died aâ—â— Rose again from the Dead and is Ascendeâ— c. Without Controversie great is the Mâ—stery of Godliness God was Manifest in tâ—â— Flesh Justified in the Spirit Believed on the World Received up into Glory 1 Tim. 3. 〈◊〉 This Christ God-Man as come and crucified was that main Foundation of the Gospel and Christianity These were new Articles Founded upon a new Dispensation without the belief of which not to name some others which may be thought by some also necessary such as Baptism by Water and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper by Bread and Wine a Man cannot be called a Christian Many there are indeed who lay Claim to this Holy and Honourable Profession but without a Just Title who fiercely contend for the Name tho' woful strangers to the Nature of Christianity who set up for more Pure and Refined Christians than are to be found in other Societies tho' they have scarcely any better Title to this Name than their being Born in a Christian Nation And thus the Quakers impose and put upon the World they set up for the great Modellers and Refiners of Religion and Condemn all others as full of Filth and Dreggs whenas they themselves as deceitful Workers 〈◊〉 themselves into the Apostles of Christ cannot be looked upon any otherwise at best than good Moral Heathens and many of them short of that Indeed could we take them at their word or would they take words in their common Acceptation it must be granted then that their Profession throughout the greatest part of this Pamphlet as well as some others viz. Will. Penn's Key Crook's Principles c. would seem Orthodox but this they will not do no you must Construe them by their Intentions for says George Whitehead in his Counterfeit Convert p. 72. I may see cause otherwise to word the Matter and yet our Intentions be the same You may then see Just Cause to mistrust them in these their seeming Orthodox Confessions They have a Nauseous Pill to give you but that it may not be Distasteful and Loathsom to the Palate they Gild it over as the Writers for Popery in the Late K. J's Reign the other Day did to make it the more Glib and Easie to a Protestant Gust and Swallow they are Masters at the Art of Painting using feigned words and fair Speeches which was the old way of deceiving the Hearts of the Simple by which means many Poor Unthinking and Well-meaning People are now Ensnared and Involved in the same Errors with themselves By these and the like plausible Professions and smooth Pretences have they endeavoured to insinuate into and impose upon our Governours who no doubt can easily discern however Artificially Gilded and Varnished their Blasphemous Opinions relating to Christianity as well as to our Government And to this end and purpose in the Month of March last past there were Two Books presented to Both Houses of Parliament the one Entituled A Brief Discovery of some of the Blasphemous and Seditious Principles c. The other Entituled Some few of the Quakers many Horrid Blasphemies Heresies c. And also a Sheet Entituled Some Reasons humbly Offered Why the Quakers should be Examined But to proceed to an Examination of their Pamphlet in its several Parts Quest What is your Belief concerning the Blessed Trinity as our Term is Answ Our Belief is That in the Unity of the Godhead there is Father Son and Holy Ghost these Three Divine Witnesses that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the H. Spirit and that these Three are One according to Holy Scripture Testimony OBSERVATION Note It is said of the Oracles of the Heathen that they were made to look with Two Faces that they might the better effect their Deceits and agreeable hereto whatever was delivered by them was spoken in such Dubious and Equivocal Terms as that it should either way tend to the Satisfaction of the Devotee Just so do the Quakers now it being necessary to serve a present Turn give out a very cunning and plausible Profession but in such Dubious Terms as may look like Good and Orthodox and yet be in a great Measure Reconcileable to their Ancient Friends Principles and Testimonies It is well known that the most Virulent Poison may be Gilded over and that Varnish and Paint may be laid on the Foulest Cause and consequently the Quakers may be guilty of the grossest Errors under the Mask of Innocence and Zeal Religion and Purity But I shall not trouble the Reader with their Intentions and Meanings nor Trace them into all their Equivocal Reserves wherein they may be thought to exceed their Brethren the Jesuites but rather have recourse to their own Books which can't but be allowed to be the best and only way to know and understand their real Principles as well as Meanings they being most if not all pretended to be Wrote from the Mouth of the Lord. First They pretend to make the World believe that they own the Blessed Trinity that is they pretend to acknowledge a Three
Office tho' the Scripture tells us of one Mediator betwixt God and Man the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. the Quakers tell you that Christ was never seen with Carnal Eyes nor heard with Carnal Ears Woolrich's Declaration to the Baptists p. 13. But did not the Jews that Crucified him see him Yes no doubt they did What then is their Meaning Why their Meaning is that was not Christ that the Jews Saw and Crucified that was but the Outward Garment which the Quakers can never call Christ See Pennington's Question to Professors p. 33. As a Confirmation of this they teach That Christ hath no Body but his Church See Josiah Coale's Works p. 332. It appears then from hence that they deny the Mediator the Man Christ Jesus Nay further if they deny the Blood of the Sacrifice which Christ our High Priest offered upon the Cross it must then be granted that they deny the Priestly Office of Christ and that they do scornfully Contemn the Blood of Christ I have already shown how then can they own Christ s Priestly Office Neither indeed according to their Principles is it at all requisite they should own this or stand in need of a Mediator for if they are Perfect as see G. Fox's Great Mystery p. 282. and without Sin ib. 101 and 231. and are come to the end of Faith as Lawson says in his Untaught Teacher p. 10. and if Edw. Burrough in his Works says true p. 33. That God doth not accept any where there is any Failing or who do not fulfil the Law and answer every Demand of Justice and if Will. Penn's Assertion be true That Justification is from the Actual performing and keeping God's Righteous Statutes see his Sandy Foundation p. 25. then what need have they of the Mediatory Office of Christ Without any further Enlargement this may suffice to satisfie any Impartial Reader that the Quakers do not own the Priestly Office of Christ But then Thirdly Do they own his Prophetick Office Yes verily says the Quakers we believe and own him to be Prophet to and over his Church and People and we are to hear him in all things But pray observe how can this be when they so plainly deny His Humane Body as above shewed The Scripture indeed tell us That we are obliged to hear this Prophet Christ speaking to us as in Acts 3. 23. Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you And it shall come to pass that every Soul which will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People This is He that God the Father from Heaven testified of Mat. 17. 5. saying This is my Beloved Son hear ye him And the Quakers seem to join issue with us in this Matter saying in their Pamphlet p. 6. We are to hear him in all things but notwithstanding this Profession they neither do nor will hear Him no their Christ within which is that which they are obliged to give ear to tells them other things than our Outward Christ or Prophet does For Instance our Prophet Christ frequently preached from the Scriptures Matth. 21. 42. For saith he Did ye never read in the Scriptures the Stone that was set at nought by you Builders the same is become the Head of the Corner Matth 22. 19. Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures John 5. 39. Search the Scriptures c. And what was more frequent than for our Lord Christ to preach from the Scriptures and to convince his Adversaries by them But the Quakers reject this Way For when one Matthew Caffyn had affirmed That the Scripture was the Touchstone to try Spirits withal Lawson's Untaught Teacher p. 14. his Answer was this That is another Lie the Scripture is not the Trier of Spirits And whereas Matthew Caffyn affirm'd ibid. p. 15. That the Law without Man is that which convinces Man of Sin He answers That is another Lie See Saul's Errand to Damascus p. 7. Where you may find that it was objected to the Quakers that they had said Whoever took a Place of Scripture and made a Sermon of it or from it was a Conjurer and his Preaching was Conjuration To which G. Fox answered All that do study to raise a Living Thing out of a Dead to raise the Spirit out of the Letter are Conjurers and their Teaching is from Conjuration which is not spoken from the Mouth of the Lord. Thus do the Quakers oppose the Teachings of Christ's Prophetick Office And further that the Quakers deny the Prophetick Office of Christ is even demonstrable by their denying his Gospel Ordinances which leads me to the Examination of the next Head in their Pamphlet p. 6. Quest Do yo believe or own Baptism as essential to Christianity or necessary to Salvation and for the Ingrafting us into Christ and His Church Answ We believe and are fully perswaded that Baptism which is essential to Christianity and the saving Baptism or the Cause without which none can be true Christians or saved is the Inward or Spiritual Washing of Regeneration by the Word of Life This is the Saving Baptism into Christ and His Church which produceth the Answer of a good Conscience towards God of which the Outward was a Figure 1 Pet. 3. 21. This is that one Baptism of Christ by one Spirit into that one Body whereof Christ is Head and for Dipping or Sprinkling Infants or young Children we find no Precept or Precedent in Holy Scripture for the Practice thereof and Ergo we cannot think our not believing it essential or necessary to Salvation or making Christians a sufficient Argument to prove us no Christians c. p. 6 7. OBSERVATION By this their Answer they do not Insinuate to but plainly tell the World what Baptism it is that is essentially necessary to Salvation or making Christians that is the Inward or Spiritual Washing of Regeneration by the Word of Life the Washing or Cleansing of the Heart or an Inward Conversion to God by this their Confession it is evident enough that they make void and abolish the Sacred Ordinance of the Outward Baptism by Water Whether Infants are to partake of this Outward Ordinance is not my Business here to prove but whether Outward Baptism by Water is the Sacred Ordinance of Christ as necessary to be believ'd and saving or Inward Baptism i. e. the Washing or Cleansing of the Heart or an Inward Conversion to God Let them first own the Outward Baptism by Water as our Saviour's Baptism then they may expect a Proof of our Practice in admitting Infants to be made Partakers of this Ordinance but this they utterly reject and disown and for the Proof of it observe that we have Christ's own Command his own Example and the Practice of the Apostles for it the Words of our Saviour by way of a Command to His Apostles are plain Matth. 28. 19. Go and teach all Nations or as the Original has it Go and disciple all Nations Baptizing or Washing them
no doubt but all good Christians own Christ to be the Bread of Life and have Spiritual Communion with him in his Holy Ordinances which Communion I dare affirm they cannot have whatever bold pretences they make who do not obey Christ in these his Holy Institutions but slight vilifie and contemn the same and that the Quakers do so see Parnell's Shield of the Truth written from the Mouth of the Lord as the Title Page shews p. 13. We are accused says he to deny the Supper of the Lord He answers The Supper of the Lord we own which is the Body and Blood of Christ that is considered Spiritually for Saints are Spiritual and their Communion is Spiritual and Eternal And here all Drunkards are shut out and all Liars Adulterers Proud Covetous c. And are without feeding upon the Husk and shadow which is Carnal and Natural and only feed the Outward Carnal Body and goeth into the Belly and so passeth out c. And so likewise the Cup which they drink and so the Communion and Fellowship of the World passeth away but this is no nourishment to the Soul And here is no Communion but Natural Outward and Carnal Full of filthiness and uncleanness which is the Table of Devils eating and drinking their own Damnation not discerning the Lord's Body which is Spiritual which the Natural Man discerns not And here stands the World's Communion and Fellowship which is Carnal p. 14. And here they are without feeding upon the Husk and Shadow without See Smith's Primer p. 36 37. says the Child I would know Father how it is concerning those things called Ordinances as Baptism and Bread and Wine which are much used in their Worship The Father answers Why Child as to those things they rose from the Pope's Invention who had Power in the Night of Apostacy and hath set up his Devices which are yet continued in England tho' he seemingly is denied and the whole Practice of those things as they use them bad their Institution by the Pope and were never so ordained of Christ Neither did He Ordain Bread and Wine to be so Used and Received c. Geo. Fox in his News coming up out out of the North c. p. 4. Your Baptism and Sacrament as you call it and all your Ordinances and Churches and Teachings it is Cain ' s Sacrifice And p. 14. Their Sacrament as they call it is Carnal Their Communion Bread and Wine it is the Table of Devils and Cup of Devils And W. Penn in his Reason against Railing c. p. 108. I affirm says he that the Paschal Lamb is as much in force as Bread and Wine And p. 109. And we can testifie from the same Spirit by which Paul Renounced Circumcision that it is to be Rejected as not now Required Quest Do you believe and own the Holy Scriptures contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration and to contain all Matters of Doctrine and Testimony c. necessary to be believed and practised in order to Salvation and Peace with God Answ Yes we do and by the Assistance of the Grace of God which gives the true Understanding of the Mind of God and Mâ—â—ning of Holy Scripture we always desire to live in the Faith Knowledge and Practice of them in all things appertaining to Life and Godliness Holy Scripture being given by Divine Inspiration is Profitable for Doctrine Correction and Instruction that the Man of God may he perfect thoroughly furnished unto every good Work able to make the Man of God wise unto Salvation thro' Faith in Christ Jesus OBSERVATION Here is like unto the rest a Plausible Profession but whether Sincere or not I leave to the World to judge when they shall have read and considered these following Quotations See John Whitehead and Rob. Ruckhill their Quakers Refuge p. 17. Whether the first Penman of the Scriptures was Moses or Hermes Or whether both these are not one Or whether there are not many Words contained in the Scriptures which were not spoken by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit Whether some Words were not spoken by the Grand Impostor some by wicked Men some by wise Men ill applied some by good Men ill expressed some by false Prophets and yet true some by true Prophets and yet false c. Sam. Fisher in his Appendix p. 752. Printed 1679. has these Words speaking of the Text of Scripture Which Transcriptions and Translations were they never so certain and entirely answering to the first Original Copies yet are not capable to be to all Men any other than a Lesbian Rule or Nose of Wax This worthy Author in his Works has the Testimony of Luke Howard Hallelujah Fisher and Will. Penn and Lawson's Untaught Teacher p. 2. To say the Word of Truth is called the Scripture or that the Scripture is the Word of Truth is a Lie and Sam. Fisher p. 460. The Scriptures not the Saints Rule but the Spirit and Sword of the Lord drawn p. 1 2. The Scriptures are not the Saints Rule of knowing God and living unto him And Edw. Barrough p. 47. No Command in Scripture was any further binding than as we are convinced of the Lawfulness thereof by the Light within For says he That is no Command from God to me what he commands to another neither did any of the Saints which we read of in Scripture act by the Command which was to another not having the Command to themselves See G. Fox's Gr. Myst p. 246. The Scriptures are not the Word of God yet he says of his own Writings p. 225. To you all this is the Word of the Lord. Nay James Nayler in his Answer to the Jews p. 22 25. It 's Blasphemy for any to say the Letter is the Word of God it is the Devil that contends for the Scriptures to be the Word of God This Will. Penn at a venture vindicates tho' he confesses he never saw the Book out of which it was quored see his Pamphlet Entituled A Brief Answer to a False and Foolish Libel called The Quakers Opinions p. 15. Printed 1678. The Question being asked the Quakers see Will. Penn and G. Whitehead their Serious Apology p. 49. Do you esteem your Speakings to be of as great Authority as any Chapter in the Bible The Answer is in these Words That which is spoken by the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater See Lawson's Threefold Estate of Antichrist p. 9. The Scripture is Dust and Death Beastly Wares c. And for a Conclusion of this Head see G. Fox's News out of the North p. 14. Your Original is Carnal Hebrew Greek and Latin and your Word is Carnal the Letter Their Original is Dust which is the Letter which is Death and their Gospel is but Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the Letter Again see Will. Bayley's Works p. 195. viz. The Scriptures in
NO SENSE can properly be called the Word of God c. yet with Respect to their own Scriptures I mean what is given forth by their Light within is in some Sense the Word of God else why did G. Fox in his Several Papers given forth for the spreading of Truth and in which Book he also calls the Scriptures Dust Death and Serpents Food p. 3 4 45 46. thus writes p. 62. To you all this is the Word of the Lord I charge you in the Presence of the Lord God to send this Book among Friends and Brethren every where to be READ in ALL Meetings to you all THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD. Now if Fox did not believe this Book of his to be in NO SENSE the Word of God why did he charge his Disciples to send it up and down as THE WORD OF GOD to charge and command them to read it as THE WORD OF GOD in SOME SENCE at least and that in all their MEETINGS whilst they say as above noted the Scriptures are not the Word of God No not in ANY SENCE And therefore as Mr. Bugg has well observed that in all the time of his being a Quaker which was 25 Years they never Read one Chapter in the Bible or one of the Epistles of the Holy Apostles in ANY ONE of their Meetings nor can they disprove what he says in THAT as well as in OTHER things Now whether they have such a great Esteem and Veneration for the Holy Scriptures valuing and preferring them before all other Books extant in the World as in their new Creeds they tell us and as they made frequent Outcries at West-Dereham Conference before Thousands let the Reader judge Quest Do you believe the Doctrine of the Resurrection from the Dead and of Eternal Judgment and the Immortality of the Soul Answ We sincerely believe and confess the Doctrine of the Resurrection from the Dead and of Eternal Judgment according to Holy Scripture Heb. 6. 2. That God will raise the Dead and judge the World in Righteousness by His Son Jesus Christ in the Day appointed even in the great Day of Judgment and that Harvest which is the end of the World Tho' the Soul of Man tho' Created is Immortal and never dies even as these Doctrines are more fully testified in Holy Scripture by Jesus Christ and His Apostles 1 st For the Doctrine of the Resurrection see Mat. 13. 43. c. p. 15. OBSERVATION The Answer is VVe sincerely believe and confess the Doctrine of the Resurrection from the Dead according to Holy Scripture that is according to their Sense and Interpretation of Holy Scripture which is no ways agreeable to the Sense and Interpretation of any Orthodox Christians To that end see Will Penn's Reason against Railing p. 134. it is objected That the IT in the Text 1 Cor. 15. be not the same Body how can that be called a Resurrection For that supposeth the same To which Penn answers If a thing can yet be the same and notwithstanding changed for Shame let us never make so much stir against the Doctrine of Transubstantiation for the Absurdity of that is rather outdone than equalled by this Carnal Resurrection Ibid. p. 138. It was objected by his Opponent That the Joys of Heaven would be imperfect if the Bodies did not Rise He Answers Is the Joy of the Ancients now in Glory imperfect Or are they in Heaven but by halves if it be so unequitable that the Body which hath Suffered should not partoke of the Joys Caelestial Is it not in measure unequal that the Soul should be rewarded so long before the Body But why must the felicity of the Soul depend upon that of the Body Is it not to make the Soul a kind of Widow and so in a state of Mourning and Disconsolateness to be without its beloved Body Which State is but a better sort of Purgatory In short if the compleat Happiness of the Soul rests in a Re-union to a Carnal Body for such it is Sown then never cry out upon the Turks Alcoran for such a Heaven and the Joys of it suit admirably well with such a Resurrection See his Invalidity of John Fâ—ldo ' s Vindication p. 369 370. I do utterly deny that this Text 1 Cor. 15. 44. is concern'd in the Resurrection of Man's Carnal Body at all but the two States of Men under the First and Second Adam Men are Sown into the World Natural so are they the Sons of the First Adam but they are Raised Spiritually thro' him who is the Resurrection and the Life and so are they the Sons of the Second Adam who came to Raise up the Sons of the First Adam from their Dead to his Living their Natural to his Spiritual Estate But perhaps it will be objected that the 47 vers The First Man is of the Earth Earthly and part of the 49 vers We that also bear the Image of the Heavenly seem to imply a Bodily Resurrection but let the whole Verse be considered and we shall find no such thing c. See Tho Ellwood in his Answer to G. Keith's first Narrative p. 149. Printed 1696. In 1 Cor. 15. 37. he makes the Apostle thus speak The Body that shall arise is not the same Carnal Body that Dies and is put into the Grave No the Body that is put into the Grave or is Sown is a Natural Body but the Body that is Raised is a Spiritual Body It is Sown a Natural Body it is Raised a Spiritual Body Ver. 44. And that none might think this Spiritual Body was the same with the Natural Body he adds There is a Natural Body and there is a Spiritual Body He does not say the Natural is made a Spiritual Body or the Natural Body and the Spiritual Body is but one and the same Body But he sets them in Opposition as two distinct Bodies and that none might think this Spiritual Bodies was the same he adds there is a Natural Body and there is a Spiritual Body Further see Rich. Hâ—bberthorn's Collections p. 119. he there tells his Opponent That he Lies concerning the Saints on Earth saying The Saints in Heaven hoped for the perfection of their Bodies at the Resurrection c. And his Envy hath reached to Heaven to prove that the Saints in Heaven are not perfect but wait for the Redemption of their Bodies which now if People mind the Scriptures there is no such Doctrine in it as the Saints in Heaven have not receiv'd the Redemption of their Bodies And again Ibid. p. 121. These are they viz. the World's People or Truth 's Enemies that say that the Saints Glorified in Heaven do yet hope for the Resurrection of their Bodies and so not come to the end of their hope tho' in Heaven But whatever whimsical Notions they are possessed with and whatever false Glosses they put upon Scripture yet I hope all Good and Orthodox Christians will readily believe and say with Job c. 19. v. 25