Excommunication given forth by divers of the principal Baptists about BOW against one that forsook them and their dead wayes wherein the Reader may also take notice of their envy and falshood London the 12th month 1669. CHRIST Ascended above the Clouds c. JOHN NEWMAN's Instance to prove the Scriptures the Word Isa. 28.9 10 11 12 13. The Word of the Lord was to this People Precept upon Precept c. Pag. 6. Answ. Scriptures signifie writings and not the Word neither doth this Instance prove them to be the Word for the Prophets of God who speak as the holy Spirit moved them did both inwardly receive and speak forth Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little from the immediate Spiâ—it and Power of God as immediatly taught by him which is before and above the Scriptures thereof which no where â—ffirm themselves being the writings in an abstract sense to bâ— the Word Also preaching Jesus Christ the Word and the Scriptures aâ—e two things the one being in a living Power and Voice and the other in written Characters Moreover the Lord sendeth out his Word and melteth the Snow the Hoar-frost and Ice Psal. 147.18 Surely this Word is not the Scriptures J.N. There are a People labour to blind this Truth by affirming That Christ is the Word not the Scriptures for they say the Scriptures are the Sayings or Words of God pag. 13. Answ. To affirm Christ to be the Word and not the writings but that in them are the words or sayings of God words of his Covenant c. or that they contain a Declaration of God and Christ is no blinding of Truth but what is â—ffiâ—med in and by the Scriptures themselves and the Word of the Lord came to the Prophets before they spake forth or writ the words see Jer. 1.1 2. The words of Jeremiah to whom the Word of the Lord came J. N's Instance from Mark 4.14 What Word was this that the Devil taketh out of mens hearts None will think it Christ but the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Answ. The Seed sown in the heart by the Son of man hath virtue and life in it in the very being of it for rooting growth and increase of fruit which is more than the writings which no where in Scripture are called the Seed and can he say the Son of man did sow some Scriptures in the High-wayes which the Devil took Also many retain Scripture in the profession of it who notwithstanding are but as the high-way ground unfruitful in whom the Seed of Life doth not take root so that the Devil doth not steal away the Scriptures or Bible from them not properly Christ out of their hearts but he steals away their hearts and minds blinding them from the sense and sight of the vertue life and light of the Seed or Word of Life withiâ— J. N. The Word of God grew and multiplied Acts 19.20 Cannot be understood of Christ a multiplication of Christ p. 17 18. Answ. Can he then think that Bibles grew and multiplied Surely the Word had Life and heavenly Virtue in it that was capable of growth and its multiplying was both in the increase of gifts and adding to the number of them who received it and though Christ be but one yet his Life his living Word and Gifts both grow and increase where he is received J.N. Christ cannot be the Word because Christians may and ought to receive his Word into their hearts Christ is not received into the hearts of men nor in Person dwell in their hearts p. 21. Answ. How grosly Erroniously and Irrationally hath he asserted and reasoned that Christ cannot be the Word because the Word is received into the hearts and how contrary to plain Scripture to say Christ is not received into the hearts see 2 Cor. 13.5 Rom. 8.10 Col. 1.27 Christ in you except you be Reprobates Christ in you the hope of glory c. but that Christ in Person doth not dwell in the hearts who ever affirmed that he doth J. N's Instance from Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it None that will makâ— use of Reason can believe that Christ did intend that Christians should keep himself for every Christian is kept 〈◊〉 and Christ 1 Pet. 1.5 p. 15. Answ. Though Christians be kept by God and Christ it s through Faith and Obedience in the Light whereby they continue in both and retain God in their knowledge holding the Head which is Christ and holding fast the faithful Word keeping the Word of his Patience such keep the Truth all which amounts to the same or is equivolent with keeping Christ the Word the Truth the Life wherein is the Patience of God and Faith of the Elect exercised against all Temptations and Tryals which are not overcome by the writings without whicâ— cannot truly be called the Word of his Patience as J. N. doth without distinction when they express words of his Wrath Judgment and Displeasure against sin and wickedness But the word of Faith Life and Patience in the Soul immediately expresseth the Love and Patience of God and Christ unto it to aâ—m it in times of Afflictions and Tryals and this we are to keep For many both profess and keep Scriptures or Bibles who are out of the Patience of Câ—rist And now I Query What Reason is it this Opposer would have us make use of and what is the ground of it in man for he speaks of carnal Reason which cannot reâ—ch God and also a Reason to be made use of Pag. 64. Surely we cannot look on him to be such a Mastâ—r of Reason as infallibly to distinguish how highly soever he thinks of himself whilst he denies and opposeth the Light within as being but a feigned light John Nâ—wman where 's thy Reason and what and wâ—ence is it We must not take thy carnal dark and prejudiced Conception for Reason nor be swayed thereby when thou art ignorant of the very Grounds and Principles of true Reason and so much opposest plain Scripture which hypocritically thou pretendest for thy only Rule J.N. To deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God is to deny the very fountain and well-spring of comforts to the Soul in Affliction which is brought out of the Promises in the Scriptures to the Soul by the Spirit through Faith p. 44. Answ. How grosly Erroneous is it to deem the Scriptures the very Fountain and Well-spring of comforts and to say that the Spirit brings the Comforts from thence to the Soul whereas God is the Fountain which to say of the Writings is all one and as blasphemous as to say they are God as some of the Ranters have said as once one of them affirmed to me at Emnith near Wisbitch That the Bible which I had in my hand was God but he quickly after came to be distracted 2dly The Spirit and Gift of Christ is as a Well of Living Water in true Believers
CHRIST Ascended Above the CLOUDS His Divinity Vindicated From the cloudy erroneous heretical and blasphemous Conceits of John Newman and his Brethren His Light in Man Vindicated From the cloudy erroneous heretical and blasphemous Conceits of John Newman and his Brethren His being The Word Vindicated From the cloudy erroneous heretical and blasphemous Conceits of John Newman and his Brethren His being In Saints Vindicated From the cloudy erroneous heretical and blasphemous Conceits of John Newman and his Brethren His being The only way and Rule Vindicated From the cloudy erroneous heretical and blasphemous Conceits of John Newman and his Brethren AND The ONLY RULE of FAITH DEMONSTRATED For the general Information of Professours and People of all sorts And the said J. N. his Book stiled The Light within c. with his Manifest Contradictions both scripturally historically and rationally examined By a Servant of Christ G. WHITEHEAD Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee Luke 19.22 His mischief shall return upon his own head Psal. 7.16 Behold they belch out c. Psal. 59.7 The mouth of them that speak lyes shall be stopped Psal. 63.11 Let them be confounded c. Psal. 129.5 London Printed in the Year 1669. The PREFACE to the Unprejudiced Reader IT is real Love and Zeal for God's living Truth and People which constrains me thus to appear in these Controversies against such inveterate scornful Spirits and Antichristian Principles as tend to invalidate and make void the very Life of Christianity and Power of Godliness by their slighting and reviling the Light within professed by us the reproached People called Quakers Which Light being the very Principle which vvould direct the mind to God and Christ by whom it is given Reader such occasions of publick contest are not of our seeking nor is it desirable to us thus to appear against any People professing Religion called Sectaries but it hath been some few angry men called Baptists and some other Professors partly of their Faith who have publickly both in Preaching and Print given us such occasions by their implacable Enmity vented against us and the truth professed by us as also by their dis-ingenuous false and injurious dealing with us and our Principles by mistaking and perverting of them in many things making themselves matter and work to make War with us as this John Nâ—wman hath in several things which he hath forged against us as our Principles which are none of ours But its prejudice and pride makes such blind men presumptuous Reader we find no new thing nor any more profundity brought forth by these prejudiced Baptists against us than the persecuting Hireling Priests did nigh twenty yeaâ—s ago in their Railing Pamphlets and Pulpits One main Subject of this John Newmans in his Book is to prove the Light in every man not to be Christ which he should not need to have done until it had been so affirmed by us for though we do affirm a spiritual divine Light of God and of his Son to be in every man yet it is not our Principle to say that Christ is in every man or that every man hath the Son but a measure of his Light Grace or heavenly Gift in all which would lead out of darkness and give the knowledge of God's Glory in the face of Christ and so reveal the Son of God within whom he that hath hath the Father also But this J. N. his enmity against the Light within hath led him so far besides any true sense of God or reverence to his Gift as to call it but a feigned Light within though he hath neither demonstrated what the Light within is in its self nor shewn any reason against it and also to endeavour to exclude both God and Christ out of all his People endeavouring to perswade us that neither God nor Christ can be in any man contrary to the manifest Testimonies of both the holy Prophets and Apostles Reader in moderation peruse what follows and let the Truth and its Light within not prejudice and darkness jâ—dge concerning these matters which are principal things in Controversie between us called Quakers and the Baptists with other Professors of thâ— same Spirit and here thou mayst see the Controversie is about the Word 2dly about the only Rule of Life 3dly About Jesus Christ 4thly and about the Scriptures whether they be properly to be called the Word the Foundation and only Rule of Life for all men as J. N. asserts of them or Jesus Christ his Spirit within to be the only Way and Rule yea or nay These Controversies are Scripturally and Rationally discussed in the Sequel The Principal Passages of this John Newmans Book against our Principle are in the same Book contradicted and plainly confuted by himself and his chief Principles and Contradictions are herein laid down as collected out of his own Book and briefly noted Reader It may seem very wonderful to thee that any men should have the confidence to undertake to confute others when they can write very few Pages without contradicting and confuting themselves and thereby manifesting their own Folly Distraction and Confusion as this J. N. hath done against us as much as ever I knew any of our Opposers do What reason can any have to follow or depend on such who have neither Soundness Stability nor Consistancy in their own Principles let the Moderate and Rational Reader judge This J. N. had been answered when his Book was newly Published but that we had several more noted Anâ—agonists to deal withal wherefore I waved his Book and did not take time so much as to read it over till very lately being desired by some Friends a little to take notice of it we have a large Answer to part of it by another Friend which is laid by till the rest of his Books be published Reader I have waved much Falshood and Nonsence and many Tautological Impertinencies in J. N.'s Book as not willing further to obtrude upon thy Patience therewith also thou mayst take notice that divers of the Subjects here treated on as that about the Light within and the Scriptures with other matters of Controversie are more fully Discussed and Resolved in our dear Friend Samuel Fisher's Book entituled Rusticus ad Academicos in Answer to John Owen Tho. Danson John Tombs and Rich. Baxter wherein Presbyterians Independants and Baptists are concerned though none of them could ever Reply to it but it lyes upon their heads not Answered by them until this day Also several considerable Books besides have divers of us writ in Answer to many peevish Reviling Pieces of the Baptists which they never yet Replyed to but the Truth is and will be over their heads and over those envious Spirits among them Moreover The Contradictions of some Principal Baptists and others about their Assertion of the Scriptures being the only Rule in Two late Discourses in London may be taken notice of in the sequel As also here is Finally a Bill of
and it is the Spirit of Promise the Comforter having the Life of all Gods Promises and Truth of Scriptures in it self from God the Fountain and this Spirit is infinite and so not â—ontained in the Scriptures though it contains the truths that are in the Scriptures of Truth for they came from the Spirit and it opens the understanding in the Scriptures as it 's waited in J.N. His sad Consequences which he thinks do follow the denying the Scriptures to be the Word and Rule proved inconsequent and his great Ignorance therein detected In Answer to his 43 44 45 pages There are no sad Consequences as he asserteth in denying the Scriptures to be the Word and Rule for Salvation And Fiâ—st I doth not take away the ground of Faith for Remission 2dly Nor Assurance for Christ and his Light within is the Ground and Foundation of Faith and Assurance 3dly Nor doth it make void the Exercise of Faith in the precious Promises for the Spirit of Promise both as a Rule manifests the Promises exerciseth Faith in and fulfils them 4thly Nor doth it deny the Comforts of Faith from the Promises the Spirit of Promise being both the Comforter and sheweth us things to come 5thly Nor doth it destroy the support supplies of Grace to the Soul in affliction For these we receive from God in his own Spirit and not from the writings outward 6thly Nor doth it deny the knowledge of Acceptance for that is given to us by the Spirit of God by which we are sealed unto the day of Redemption and know that we are oâ— God and the Mystery of Life and Salvation is revealed unto us by the Spirit 7thly Where the Spirit of Truth and its Light within is obeyed and truly owned to be the Guide and Rule it leaves not men in the dark nor out of the knowledge of God or enjoyment of Life eternal But to deny the Spirit or Ligh◠〈◊〉 Christ to be the Rule for Life and Salvation doth leave 〈…〉 dark void of saving Knowledge and Life J.N. 8thly Without this viz. the Scriptures to be 〈◊〉 c. we know not that there is any God or Christ or Salvation by God in Christ nor by what means it may be obtained all men are left in the dark and no man knoweth how to enjoy Life Eternal pag. 45. Neither do we know what God counteth unclean and what holy And in short without the Scriptures we know not any promise that belongeth to this life or that to come these dreadful conclusions will follow denying the Scripâ—ures to be the Word and Rule to Salvation and it leaves men to walk by fancy and imagination Answ. Poor men you hâ—ve shewn your selves sâ—fficiently herein and what an empty implicit Faith you are in and how void both of the knowledge of God Christ and Salvation you are and how yet in your sins having denied Christ and his Light within to bâ— your Rule Way and Foundation as he is to his followers and so you are walking by your fancies and imaginations wâ—o â—et the Scriptures in the place of Christ as your only and absolute Rule and Ground of your Faith and Knowledge And then if one should ask you How you prove the Scripâ—ures to be true if they must be the absolute and only Rule and none other then you mâ—st prove them by themselves or plead their own authority from an implicit Faith you have of them which is but still an absurd way of reasoning or assaying to convince gain-sayers being but Petitio principii a begging the Question And how would this convince either Papists Turks Jews Infidels or Athiests to tell them our Bible or Scriptures are infallibly true and the only Rule to know there is a God and a Christ and Salvation by him and to know what God counteth unclean and what holy And then what a sad sentence of no less than Condemnation doth this pass upon all People and Nations who have not the Scriptures as being all void of knowledge thâ—t there is either God Christ Salvation good or evil whereas there is a living Evidence throughout the Creation or Works of God therein of the eternal Power or Maker see Psal. 19. Rom. 1. Job 12. and many do know and have known these things written of which concerns Salvatâ—â—â— by the Light of God and Christ in them that never could 〈◊〉 or had the Scriptures outwardly as those Gentiles which 〈◊〉 the Law yet did those things contained in it and shewed 〈◊〉 â—ffects of the Law written in their hearts Rom. 2. though the Scriptures are profitable to the Man of God who hath them being led by his Spirit which opens them J.N. The Eternal Power and Spirit that was in Christ cannot properly be called Christ this Power or Spirit is God and not Christ. Answ. Contrary to plain Scriptures opposing both the Divinity and Deity of Jesus Christ who is both the Power and Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. The second Adam the quickning Spirit ch 15.45 And the Father the Word and Spirit are One 1 Joh. 5.7 J.N. The will and mind of God is contained in the Scriptures in order to mans Salvation p. 49. Answ. The Word contained is erroneously place for the Writings contain only a Declaration of the Mind and VVill of God in order to Salvation God and his Mind Thoughts VVill and Wayes are Infinite and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Him J.N. The Word was in the beginning but Christ was in time not till he had taken Nature upon him and became in the likeness of sinful Man being born of the Virgin Mary Christ was not the Word before Christ was pag. 50 51. Answ. This Assertion opposseth the Deity and Divinity of Jesus Christ and contradicts the faithful Testimonies of the Holy men of God in the Scriptures of Truth For if the Son of God was not the Word nor in the Beginning nor before the Virgin Mary then Jesus Christ was not God but is represented as a finite Creature But the Erroneousness of this is apparent for the Word was with and was God in the beginning by which he created the Heavens and framed the Worlds Joh. 1.1 2 3. Heb. 11.3 And that this Word was Jesus Christ is plain seeing it's expresly said God created all things by Jesus Christ Eph. 3.9 Yea all things visible and invisible were created by him Col. 1. But if Jesus Christ the Son of God was not in being before he took flesh in the womb of the Virgin or was not before Mary how could all things be created by him And Nebuchadnezzar was of a better belief than to think that the Son of God was not in his time for he said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God Dan. 3.25 And was not this before Mary or Christ's outward-birth of her All ye Baptists answer me what Scripture had he
they were begotten in the New-birth pag. 56. Answ. See how contrary to plain Scriptures he reasons for Christ is called the Seed unto which the Promises are Gal. 3.16 And He is that Word which begets into the New-birth and not the Letter and this Seed is Living and Incorruptible though the Devil steals away the hearts of many from the sense of the the Seed or Word of Life as he hath blinded the minds of Infidels 2 Cor. 4.4 J.N. Ministers are called Angels Rev. 2. yet there is no Man that is an Angel p. 59. Answ. Yes If he be an Embassador Messenger or Minister he is an Angel J.N. Christ cannot dwell in Man for Christ is perfect Man as well as perfect God p. 61. Answ. To say Christ cannot dwell in Man doth not only oppose His Spirituality Deity and OMNIPOTENCY but also is contrary to the Apostles plain Testimonies of Christ's being in the Saints And if He be perfect God he can dwell iâ— His People as He hath promised and suâ—ely His being perfect Man doth not put a limitation upon Him as a let or hinderance to disable Him from being in His People whilst He who was Christ as come in the Flesh was also truly Jesus Christ within in his Spiâ—itual appearance and we do not confine Him under this or that particular Name His Names are divers in Scriptures according to His Manifestations Offices and Works He is called Emmanuel God with us He is called Jesus Christ The Way The Truth The Light The Life The Seed The Son The Everlasting Father The Word The Power of God A Quickning Spirit c. J.N. Christ Jesus after He rose He was still a Body of Flesh Contradiction the God-head took Flesh in the Womb of Mary the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in Flesh c. pag. 52 60 63. Answ. Christ Jesus was more than a body of flesh for he was Spirit as well aâ— flesh He was Lord from Heaven Neither is Man made up simply of a body of Flesh being a complex or composition of parts of Body Soul and Spirit Also there is a manifest inconsistency between these words He was still a body of flesh And He took flesh or was God manifest in flesh J. N's Argument If he rose Jesus Christ then he rose Flesh and Blood and also Man But he arose Jesus Christ. Therefore Flesh and Blood c. And he did ascend with the same body and is still at the right hand of God with a body of flâ—sh c. p. 64 65. Contradiction As we have born the Image of the Earthly-man so we are now to bear the Image of the Heavenly which is Christ Jesus p. 89. Answer Though I grant That Christ arose with the same body that was Crucified and put to Death and that he ascended into Glory even the same Glory which he had with the Father before the World began And that the same that Descended was the same that Ascended far above all Heavens Eph. 4. And as Christ said What and if ye see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before Joh. 6. Yet the Argument is fallaciously and corruptly staâ—ed in the manner of it the Inference of the first Proposition and so the Consequence being inconsequent to it carrying no proof along in it for it still strictly limits or tyes up the Name Jesus Christ to a body of flesh and blood and so covertly denies His being before he took on him that visible body of flesh blood and bones and so opposeth his Divinity as before Whereas He was the Spiritual Rock which all Israel drank of long before And as to His being at the right hand of God I grant according to the Scriptures but cannot believe His body to be a carnal body in Heaven or that He consists of a carnal existence And further these words are not the Scripture language viz. to say That Christ is a body of flesh blood and bones in Heaven and a Personal being at the right hand of God without all Men remote as J. N's terms are But these words Spiritual Body Glorious Boâ—y One Body and One Spirit and that the Saints discerned and eaâ— the Lord's Body were Members of His Body c. And except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood you have no life in you saith Christ These are Scripture terms and language So neither is Chriâ—t nor God's right hand so limitted to a remoatness from them And as we have born the Image of the Earthly-man so we must bear the Image of the Heavenly which is Christ Jesus this is true But the definition that J. N. hath given of Christ Jesus the Heavenly Man is That He is a body of flesh and blood a personal being not in man From whence it follows That this Heavenly Image men must bear or be changed into is a personal Image of flesh blood and bones as if they had not such a body or Image before Whereas the Heavenly man is spiritual and so is His Image And the Apostle distinguisheth between the Natural body and the Spiritual body as he doth between the bodies that are Coelestial and the bodies Terrestrial 1 Cor. 15. And further to take off Objections and Scruples I confess that according to the Flesh Jesus Christ came of the Seed of David and the body that He took upon him or that was prepared for him to do the will of God in upon Earth was a real and not a fantastical body and that according to the flesh He was put to death or died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and rose again the third day and was after seen of the Disciples and of above five hundred Brethren at once and that He was seen of James then of all the Apostles 1 Cor. 15. To which the Apostle Paul adds vers 8. And last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time And how did he appear unto Paul Even by Revelation God revealed his Son in him It was the same Son of God who appeared vaâ—iously both visibly and invisibly after His Resurrection he appeared in various forms and shewed Himself diversly First to Mary Magdalen 2dly to other Women 3dly to the Disciples as they went to Emaus 4thly to James 5thly to Peter 6thly to the Apostles when the Doors were shut 7thly to more than five hundred Brethren as aforesaid after he appeared to Thomas when he said Reach hither thine hands c. Mat. 28. Mark 16. Luke 24. Iohn 20. 1 Cor. 15. Once he said to them Handle Me Luke 24.39 another time to Mary Magdalen when she thought him to be the Gardener Touch Me not Joh. 20.17 And it 's said Luk. 24.30 31. as he sate at meat with them He took bread and blessed and brake it and gave to them and their eyes were open and they knew Him and He vanished out of their sight Now seeing that he appeared so diversly being capable
Name and yet Crucifie to themselves his Life or spiritual Appearance He was spiritually pierced and crucified in spiritual Sodom and Egypt And this sin you carnal conceited Professors and Hypocrites are guilty of who despise him and his Light within counting them a feigned Christ and a feigned Light within as this our Opposer hath blasphemously done but the same Jesus as he was seen ascend when a cloud received him out of their sight who stood gazing Acts 1.9 10 11. it is said shall so come in like manner c. which though every like manner is not the very same nor all clouds the same yet the same Jesus certainly cometh and in like manner his coming being in the clouds Behold he cometh with clouds and you shall see him to your sorrow who talk of his Name and Coming and yet depart not from Iniquity for out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp two-edged Sword Rev. 1.16 to cut you down with all your Hypocrisie carnal conceits and feigned Profession of Christ without the sense of his Power Life or Light within J.N. Hope to the end for the grace that shall be brought to light at the revelation of Christ and this revelation will be from Heaven not in man pag. 71. Answ. This Inference and Conclusion is false and contrary to the Apostles plain Testimony For as whatsoever might be known of God is manifest within So the Revelation of Jesus Christ the Son of God is within to the true believers in his Light And no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him And God revealed his Son in Paul Gal. 1.16 his Glory was to be revealed in the Believers and Sufferers for Christ. And surely as they hoped looked or waited in the measure of Grace or Light received for the Revelation Appearance or second Coming of Christ to Salvation in their dayes their hope and expectation therein was not void nor they disappointed thereof as theirs is like to be who are expecting that Christ's second Coming or Appearance to Salvation will be a Personal Coming and his Reign a Personal Reign which word Personal they add to the Scripture and to the Book of the Prophesie of John to wit the Revelation not truly minding the penalty they incur by adding as mentioned Rev. 22. And so where they add the word Personal or in Person to his Coming again or Personal being c. do they not herein shew their carnal expectations mean thoughts and unscriptural conceptions touching Christ his Divine Life Being and coming to Salvation And their knowledge not to be divine nor after the Spirit For where doth the Scripture say That Christ shall come the second time in Person to save Or that he shall Reign in Person or Personally Reign c. But about this Point and several other things Baptists do not accord and other Proffesions also are divided And so likewise some imagine That the new Jerusalem Prophesied of that should come down from Heaven must be some ouâ—ward City or Place consisting of fair buildings outwardly and so might they not as well imagine of the Temple thereof that it is some fair outward structure whereas the Lord God and the Lamb is the Temple and Light thereof and the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the Light of this holy City J. N. By denying any personal being of Christ without all men at the right hand of God but only a feigned Christ within then Remission of sins must die and Faith also for want of the object Christ p. 73 74. Answ. This manner of excluding God's right hand and Christ to a limitation out of his People in a personal being which are no Scripture terms still implyes him to be a Personal God or Châ—ist like the Anthropomorphites and Muggletonian's conceits of Him And J.N. his scornfully and blasphemously calling Christ and his Light within a feigned Christ not owning Jesus Christ within as the object of Faith This is both contrary to the true Faith and its Righteousness and savours not of any real knowledge of Christ in this scornful man For the true Faith and its object or foundation are inseparable see 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith Prove your selves Know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates So that their knowledge and proof of their being in the Faith was their knowledge of Jesus Christ in them as their foundation c. and this was not a feigned Christ and in him the Remission of sins is known to them that are in the Faith Paul was sent to turn the Gentiles from darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan to God that they might receive the remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are Sanctified And this was the Light of Christ within And the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh in this wise Say not in thine heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee c. yea very nigh thee Mark The Righteousness of Faith doth not shut Christ the Word or object of Faith out of the hearts of true Believers but the Word of Faith is nigh even in the heart c. And we know the Power of God and true Remission thereby is inwardly felt by all the Children of the Light and that Living Faith that stands in the Power and Word of God within shâ—ll not die nor be void nor miss of its blessed end which is Salvation J.N. â—he Spirit of God I my self own and daily pray for The same Spirit I own though not distinct from the Scriptures They canot be separated one from the other in their Nature and Purity p. 91 94 1.10 Answ. Are the Scriptures and the Spirit inseparable and yet thou hast the Spirit daily to pray for when thou hast the Scriptures What Confusion is this Whereas if they be inseparable it follows that all â—â—at have the Scriptures must necessarily have the Spirit also which is false for the unbelieving Jews who had Scriptures thought to have had Eternal Life in them like such as you who make them the ground of your Faith and Assurance yet they would not come to Christ that they might have Life Also where thou affirmest The Scripture and the Spirit cannot be separated one from another in their nature and purity This is all one as to say The Scriptures are as incorruptible as the Spirit which is a gross Error and contradicted by thy self in thy 104 105 106 pag. where thou hast granted That Abel Enoch Abram Isaac Jacob Noah c. had a sufficient Rule before the Scriptures were written viz. The Spirits Rule God's Speaking and Directions to them from his own
mouth and that they had a more infallible Word to walk by than is now to us for it 's possible that some Scriptures may be corrupteâ— having been in the hands of corrupted men c. Thus far thou J. N. hast confuted thy self and manifestly broke the neck of thy own Cause First in that thou hast confessed to a more infallible Rule or Word than the Scriptures so that the Scriptures are not the only Rule nor yet the ground of Faith Assurance as often thou hast falsly misrepresented them 2dly In that the Scriptures might be corrupted they are not inseparably one with the Spirit in Nature and Purity 3dly Thou having granted That the Directions or Word thâ— Ancients had from God's own mouth was impossible that should be corrupted p. 106. From whence it follows That the immediate Word and Directions of God are the only infallible Rule in all such as receive them and not the Scriptures which might be corrupted as is confessed But whereas thou sayest The New Testament Letter that now is is to be our Rule p. 103. And often sayest The Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith for all men to walk by unto the end of tâ—â— World and none other c. Herein thou hast set the Letter or Writing above the Spirit and its immediate Directions from God contrary to what thou hast acknowledged as if thou wouldest now place all Rule upon the Letter and leave no room for that which thou hast confest to be more infallible and thus thou art found shuffling saying and unsaying reeling to and fro like a man drunk in Confusion For though many times wherein thou hast granted to truth contrary to thy own corrupt Principle thou dost not keep to it but turnest round again to thy own Confusion which in the tenour of it runneth thus viz. The Letter is the only Rule for all men to the Worlds â—nd nay the Rule of the Spirit or immediate Word which the Ancients had before the Scriptures were written was a more infallible Rule than the Scriptures for they might be corrupted But to go round again They cannot be separated in their Nature and Purity c. Is it not easie to see here what a labyrinth of Confussion and self-Contradictions thou art run into who hast presumed to confute others though to thy own final Confutation And seeing thou pretendest to pray for and own the Spirit of Truth in its help or work as thou sayest in the Word Doest thoâ— mean that the Spirit is in the Scriptures not distinct from them Or That it cannot be separated from the Letter according to thy words before What then Doest thou think that the Spirit is essential in the Writing and so that all that have the Scriptures must needs have the Spirit as it follows from thy own words whereas there 's a multitude of Examples to the contrary even in this Age and Nation of both many Hypocrites and empty Professors and others who are not led by the true Spirit and yet have the Scriptures As also thou thy self who professest the Scripture to be thy only Rule yet art found in Confusion and Error which God is not the Author of not yet his Spirit and what Scripture hast thou that sayeth these words viz. The New-Testament Letter is to be our Rule Produce plain Scripture for these words and it shall end the Controversie or otherwise be ashamed of professing the Scriptures thy only Rule when thou wilt not be ruled by them but presume to assert what thou canst not prove therein And yet for all thy high Assertions and Titles put upon the Scriptures thou hast confessed That another Foundation can no man lay than that which is already laid which is Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 3.11 But hast not thou often essayed to have laid another Foundation for Faith and Assurance even the Scriptures or the Letter yet knowest not but that they may be corrupted what an implicite Faith wouldst thou beget all People into of that which thou canst give no infallible demonstration of If thou shouldest thus preach to the Jews Turks or Infidels and tell them the Scripâ—ures or Letter of the New Testament must be their only Rule for Salvation as thou sayest it must be for all men to the Worlds end and then shouldst tell them that corrupt men for ought thou knowest have corrupted the Scriptures What Conviction thinkest thou would this work upon them and how would it answer either that Light or Reason that is in them and whilest thou seemest not to own the immediate teaching of God or his Spirit now for the Rule but the New Testament Letter or Scriptures only How camest thou by thy Faith concerning them And if thou meanest That the Doctrines contained in the New Testament are the Rule and not the Letter abstractively then how shall a man know these Dostrines and which do particularly relate to his state and condition seeing there are diversities of states written to Do not many misapply them whilest they place the Rule only in the literal Prescriptions and do not begin in the Spirit which gave forth the wholsome Doctrines in Scripture which Spirit is still sufficient to lead into all Truth and doth immediately teach the same wholesome Doctrines and now though every wholesome Direction or Doctrine prescribed may admit of the term A Rule as it is rightly received which thing I granting I thereby do no more grant the Scriptures to be the only Rule than that they are the only Word because I grant that words of God are recorded in them For to say the Scripture-Letter or Writing is the only Rule of Faith for all is a gross mistake and excludes the immediate Teachings Rule and Law of the Spirit which every spiritual mind is led by and supposes no true Faith but what the Letter or Writing is the Ground or Rule of whereas it can be but an historical traditional and implicite faith that is meerly founded upon Tradition and Letter and not Spirit or thâ—t that is without the divine and immediate Illumination of the Sâ—irit without which is no Divine Faith but mens Knowledge Faith and Religion are all but traditional literal and lifeless for in the true Knowledge of the Scriptures there must be an immediate reflection of Divine Light upon the Understanding from that Infallible Spirit which they were Ministers of who could truly distinguish between the Ministration of the Spirit and that of the Letter which thou hast not done p. 104. who sayest the Scriptures of the New-Testament are the Spirits New Administration from whence it follows that all that can preach those Scriptures are Ministers of the Spirit or New-Testament whereas many both can reâ—d and preach them litterally who are yet but Ministers of the Letter and never knew the immediate and living Administration of the Spirit from which the true Ministers preached who immediately were commissioned and whose Gospel came not in word only but in Spirit and in Power it
having the immediate evidence of the Spirit in it from God which the Letter or outward writing hath not for it is directed and given to us traditionally though I intend no invalidating of it hereby but do oppose that spirit and doctrine which sets it out of its place that calleth the Letter the Only Rule for Salvation and so leaveth no room for the Immediate Teachings of God's Spirit or Light as the Rule in these days Which is the old defign and work of Antichrist which thou J. N. and others of thy Brethren are carrying on to keep people in blindness in a dark faith under your trâ—ditional teachings who can give no certain demonstration for the ground of your Faith and yet thou hast granted the Spirit to be more vertuous and greater than the Letter p. 112. Enough to confute thy opinion of the Scriptures being the only Rule for now the Spirit is greater But then again thou tellest us The sufficiency of the Saints Rule and Guidâ— standeth in the Spirit and Scripture both For sayest thou they cannot be separated in their Nature Purity c. p. 110. At if thou wouldest not freely grant the Spirit 's sufficiency without the Scriptures or to those that have them not but seemest to limit or tye up the Spirit to the Scripture as being inseparable in their Nature and Purity as if the Nature of the Writing were â—he Nature of the Spirit and equally Pure with it whereas the Spirit cannot be corrupted and its Râ—le is more infallible than the Scriptures according to thy own Confession and also thou hast confessed That in all Dispensations God never left his People without a word of Direction either written or immediately from his own mouth p. 106 110. So that here it appears some had immediate Directions from God who had not the letter and so may many now for ought thou knowest for God is not limitted though thou wouldest limit his Spirit and the Saints to the letter as if none were Saints and Believers but who had the Scriptures Oh! Ignorance and yet thou hast confessed That the Spirit is of more efficacy and greater than the Letter p. 110 112. How then is the Letter the only Rule And I ask Is that Word the Scriptures or Letter which thou sayest Christians are nursed with the sincere Milk of Does Milk flow from Letter or Spirit And is the nourishment of the new-born Babes 1 Pet. 2.2 the Letter Or are none true Babes but who have the Letter What ignorance narrowness and pinching work art thou found in who hast so tyed up all to and in the Letter as Spirit only Rule sincere Milk Well-spring of Comforts c. And yet grants p. 115. That the Spirit is the Key of Divine Knowledge which overthrows thy work about the Scriptures in thy setting them out of their place As also to the Query p. 117. Whether the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures be a sufficient Rule and Guide To this thou answerest viz. Who is so ignorant as to deny the sufficiency of God's Spirit If thou doest not deny it Why doest thou go about to tye up all men to the Worlds end unto the Scriptures as the only Rule when now thou doest not deny the Spirits sufficiency as Rule and Guide nor darest thou assert the Scriptures sufficient without the Spirit though thou grantest That the Spirit is sufficient apart from the Scriptures which thou callest â—â—e Word pag. 118. Then the Scriptures are not the only Rule the Spirit being the Key of divine Knowledge the sufficient Rule above the Scriptures and greater than they As Also in pag. 116. thou confessest That there are secrets and private discoveries that God makes to the Soul by his blessed Spirit which are not manifest to any but to the heart that doth enjoy it These secrets are to those that fear him c. Where note That these secrets and private discoveries are not manifest to all that have the Scriptures but to those that fear God 2d That they are not made manifest or revealed by the Letter or Scripture outward but by the blessed Spirit inward unto the heart and soul that feareth God or hath Communion with him in his own Light Life and Spirit which is greater and above the Letter Again A further Confutation to thy self appeareth pag. 108. where thou grantest in the best sense That the Spirit is the Rule in its own Administration To which I say This still confutes thy work for that Administration is immediately and inwardly received from the Spirit which in the best sense is the Rule and this Spirit being the greatest all wholesome Doctrines Teachings and Directions are contained and summed up in it and so the Scriptures of Truth are not hereby made void though not the only Rule but fulfilled in them who walk after the Spirit or Rule of the New Creature for if you walk in the Spirit then are you not under the Law and they begun well who begun in the Spirit But whereas thou turnest â—ound again tying up the Spirits Rule to this viz. Doctrine and Teaching delivered in words also written in Scriptum est sayest thou As also that the word Regeneration signifies twice born to wit both after the flesh and from a state of sin whereas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to regenerate is to beget again not after the flesh Here Thy Divinity and Scholarship may both go together for where the Rule of the Spirit thou limittest to the Writing how consists this with the Spirits sufficiency to them that have not the Scripture or to its sufficiency apart or alone But 't is no strange thing for thee and such to be found in such manifest self Contradictions However thou wouldst have us take notice that thou art both a Divine and a Scholar And thy saying That Christ cannot be a Rule for any man in his Personal being p. 94. What makes this for thy purpose May it not be here implyed that he hath a spiritual being and that he can be and is a Rule in it to his People as He is their Way to walk in And where hast thou these words Personal being in thy Rule Is the Essence or Being of the Son of God Personal Was not his Being Divine before his Incarnation or Appearance in Person But thou appearest as ignorant both what Essence or Being is and what Person is which are different Again Thou appearest as grosly mistaking the state of the Controversie where thou sayest viz. What if my Spirit lead me to Mahomets Rule Or if my Spirit perswade me to believe the Popes mouth to be infallible c. Now it is not thy Spirit that may thus egregiously mislead thee that we are pleading for the Rule of but it is the infallible Spirit of Truth which gave forth the Scriptures neither is thy Assertions concerning the Scriptures any valid Plea or Argument to convince either Turks or Papists who are both out of the Truth and the Spirit
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
Absurdities of thee and such blind insolent Opposers who oppose the Light within and the power of Godliness as thou J. N. hast manifestly done And now J. N. here follows a few of thy gross Lyes and slanderous Accusations laid down and implyed against us which I return back upon thy own head 1. THat noâ—hing that is of man shall at the last be saved but only the Pure Seed This is a gross abuse for the Redemption Reâ—toration and Salvation of the whole man we own 2. False it is That our Family Preacheth and Printeth down the Scriptures and the Commands of Christ as Carnal c. 3. False it is That the Scripture is not to be owned by Saints 4. False it is That they bid People turn to a feigned and pretended Light or Spirit within 5. False it is That our Family doth use the Scripture but as a Cloak to carry on a design of darkness when we own the Scripture in its proper place 6. False it is That the proper place of Scripture is but to stand by us as a Stalking-Horse 7. A malitious slander it is To charge us as crafty Fowlers with shooting the simple Soul through by deceitful darts 8. False it is That we cast behind our backs all the Order and Discipline of the Primitive Churches of our Lord and Master For the Worship in Spirit and the Living Way which Châ—ist set up and Consecrated we Testifie to and for 9. We do not make use of either God's Word or Scriptures in hypocrisie as most slanderously is implyed against us 10. And that of bâ—inging a mist and fog upon the Scripture out of the bottomless Pit and bringing it to such a low rate by Evasions and Contradictions These things J. N. thou and such peevish slâ—nderers are guilty of and not we as thy work and self-Contradictions sufficiently have discovered 11. A gross and manifest slander it is That we will not own the Man Christ to be risen 12. False it is That we own not a Rising or Resurrection of the the Dead c. at the last â—ay according to the Scripâ—ures Though not according to the unscriptural conceits of some busie Intrudeâ—s or Fools who now as formerly are contending and asking How are the Dead raised and with wâ—â—t body do they come 1 Cor. 15.35 36 37. 13. And as to these dreadful Opinions and Delusions of not owning an Eternal Life c. of drawing all the glory after this life into a present enjoyment and in this life to make an end of all our happiness c. These are none of our Opinions nor ever owned as Principles among us but judged as Atheistical and therefore are most injuriously and falsly drawn or inferred against us But I have heard of some of the Baptists that have held the Mortallity of the Soul that it dyes with the body c. 14. Also a false Inference it is against us That the Grave will be the farthest Journey that man shall go towards Eternal Life For as touching the Righteous or Ransomed of the Lord who believe in his Light within they own and witness to an Immortal state and receive Power in Him who is the Resurrection and the Life over Death Hell and the Grave And as we do own a Resurrection both of the just and unjust according to the Scriptures and that each shall have rewards according to their works so neither Death nor Hell nor Grave nor Earth nor Sea shall detain or keep back the wicked from their just rewards and punishments due for their Iniquity Rebellion and Transgressions who have rejected the Light within and hated to be Reformed For there is a Lake of perpetual torment for the Devil and wicked men for the Beast and false Prophet that War against the Lamb the Light and his followers for such as receive his Mark and such as are not found written in the Book of Life Rev. 19.20 20.10 to the end Yea and further it is said That the Fearful and Unbelieving and the Abominable and Murderers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyers shall hâ—ve their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Rev. 21.8 Wherefore J. N. and thy Brethren take heed how you go on in your Envy Lyes and Slanders against an innocent Peopâ—e but Repent repent of your wickedness therein which hitherto divers of you have often appeared in in â—our malicious Spirits But the Lord will sweep away your Refuge of Lyes and Slanders and he knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of temptations and to reserve the Unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished 2 Pet. 2.9 And whereas thou J. N. chargest us with dreadful Delusion as bringing all to an invisible state all within man and that there is no visible God no visible Christ c. p. 133. Answ. Dreadful Delusion is without any proof against us it s thy own who opposest the invisible state and inward enjoyment of God who is invisible and that which may be known of God is manifest wiâ—hin And what Rule in Scripture hast thou for these words visible God visible Christ c. Here thou hast not squared thy Work by the Rule thou pretendest for is not Christ the Image of the Invisible God Col. 1.15 And did not Moses by Faith see him that is Invisible when he had respect unto the recompence of Reward Heb. 11. And is not that recompence of reward viz. Eternal Life Peace and Felicity inwardly and spiâ—itually received by those that patiently now suffer for Christ whose sufferings of the present time are not to be compared unto the Glory that shall be revealed in them Rom. 8.18 But thou that art so carnally imagining and thus shutting out the weighty things of Salvation out of man and like the old Hereticâ—l Egyptian Monks the Anthropomorphites and late Muggletonians art telling of a visible God and Christ remote not in any and despising the Light within as but feigned What could we expect better from â—hee than such darkness ignorance and confusion as hath appeared in this thy malicious irrational Book against the Light within and the Children or Family of Light called Quakers against neither of whom hast thou urged any reason or validity so as to disaffect any that are unprejudiced against us but the more against thy self and them that will own thee Wherefore my advice and caution to all that are simply-minded who read this that they seriously minde and follow the Light and Unction from the Holy-One within that thereby their minds may be kept out of prejudice and enmity and over and out of the perverse wayes of imaginary conceited dark and prejudiced spirits who pervert the Scriptures and deride at the Light within and abuse the Children of it as thou hast done But the Truth is set over thy head and all those of thy Fraternity whose spirits the Devil hath inveterately set against that which you shall one day know will be
too strong and mighty for you Now unto the King Eternal Immortal Invisible the only wise God be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Tim. 1.17 The Baptist and Presbyter c. conjunct against us to their own Disjunction and Confusion OR A Relation of some Heads of Two Discourses in London the first whereof was the 28 th of the 10 th Month 69. at which Thomas Danson formerly Priest of Sandwich in Kent and William Kiffin Baptist with the Assistance of Ald. Hayes joyned against us THe Question disputed on both times was Whether the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith yea or nay VVhich was affirmed by them but denyed by us Now let the impartial Readers note how confused and contradictory they were in the management of their Affirmation As first when we had excepted against their Affirmation the particle Only being exclusive of any higher Rule yea even of the Spirit of Truth it self and importing the Scriptures as the chief or sole singular and alone Rule of Faith excluding all other Now when any of these our Opposers did at any time include the Spirit or the divine illumination thereof in the understanding when they had asserted the Scriptures to be the only Rule this Contradistion they divers times appeared in And T. D. when he could not stand by the Assertion in the terms proposed instead of the word Scriptures he would have it The Doctrines contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the only Rule of Faith which he also could not prove according to his general Assertion therein and his disserting the terms of the Question to wit of the Scriptures being the only Rule he rendred no sufficient Reason for it for the Doctrines as contained therein have still relation to the Scriptures which are of divers kinds as those of the Law for the Circumcision and other Shadows and those of the New Testament forbidding them But yet though one while the Scriptures and another while the Doctrines contained in them were asserted to be the only Rule of Faith in Contradiction to this he would assent to the guidance of the Spirit of God and would include the Holy Ghost in the comfort of the Scriptures and confess at length That the Scriptures without divine illumination are but the foundation of an historical Faith and not a saving Faith and that a man may believe the historical part and not be saved and that the divine illumination of the Spirit is the Foundation and Rule of saving Faith Observ. Mark Here is a Foundation or Rule of the Spirit assented to above the Scriptures If the divine illumination of the Spirit be the Rule of the Understanding the Rule for Conviction and consequently the Rule of Faith then the Scriptures are not the only Rule And T. D. granted That the Scriptures are not the Rule of Conviction for those that denied their divine Authority it being but a begging the Question to argue from Scripture for the Conviction of such c. Therefore it follows that the inlightning of the holy Spirit which is able to convict Gain-sayeâ—s is a Rule above the Scriptures which therefore are not the only Rule But W. Kiffin to prove their first Assertion so much confuted by T. D. himself told us That the Director and Rule to Faith and Salvation were two distinct things as the Way to Bristol and my Director into the Way and that the Scriptures are the only Rule and Way in which we are to walk and the Spirit of God is the Guide and Director c. Answ. To thâ—s he was Answered That Christ is both the Leader and Director into the way of God and the Way also and that we are to walk in the Spirit and therefore his asserting that the Director is not the Way in this Instance against the Spirit being the Rule is all one as to say Christ cannot be the Way because he is the Guide which is contrary to his own Testimony And while W.K. did state the Way and Rule as the same or equivolent he mâ—nifestly ran to his own confutation Christ Jesus and his Light being the Author of Faith and only Way to Salvation As to the Question If the Scriptcres come where men question them or their Relation of those Miracles or Works of God's Power c. which T.D. argued as ground or matter of Conviction c. How shall such be Convicted by that Relation which they question without the Living Evidence of the Spirit T. D. replied Would you question whether there were such a man as King Henry the Eight c. Answ. This is not an Answer to the only Rule of Faith and proves no farther than a traditional Faith and by this it appears what is the nature of these mens Faith and how weak for they did not know that there was a King Henry the Eight by divine illumination and sure the Spirit and Power that gave forth the Scriptures hath an influence upon the understandings and opens the Holy Scriptures where it is submitted to within His Instance of King Henry the Eight was a very mean and pitiful one in this case to answer the Ground and Rule of true and living Faith which is the Gift of God and whereof Christ is the Author Farther Mark what corrupt Doctrines and Extravagancies the said T.D. runs into against the universal extent of the Spirit of God and sufficiency of his Light having granted or supposed many places in the World where there is neither Bible nor Minister to Preach he proceeded as followeth T. D. I say that God ordinarily doth not by his Spirit immediately reveal the Doctrines contained in the Scriptures meaning without them His Spirit doth not go into the farthest parts of India where the Scriptures are not the Spirit of God doth not go into the remotest parts of the World We suppose there are some placâ—s where there is neither Bible nor Minister I do not understand any ground that the Spirit in those places doth immediately reveal those things c. p. 9. Answ. 1. See if this be not a limitation put upon the Spirit of God and a denial of its alone sufficiency to teach or reveal all Truth without the Scriptures And how this man supposes that there are remote places where the Spirit doth not come which is contrary to plain Scripture Whither shall a man go from the Spirit or flee from the presence of God see Psal. 139.7 8 9 10. for his Presence fills Heaven and Earth 2dly Supposing that in some places they have neither the Scriptures nor their outward Preaching it were a sad sentence to conclude them all in a state of Damnation for want thereof and to conclude that therefore God doth not afford them of his Spirit or Light to be an inward Rule of their Faith without the Scriptures What cruelty doth this charge upon God against his Creatures And what a narrow limitation doth this put upon his Spirit to allow him his
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
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
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
for the Rule of Faith Life and Salvation must likewise be infallible pure and incorruptible Christ being the Author of the holy Faith and his Light the Rule of the right Understanding Conviction and Perswasion and consequently of the Belief J. N's Contrad The Gospel which was preached unto every Creature under Heaven was the Scriptures of the New Testament The Everlasting Gospel The general ground of Faith and Assurance Now to deny the Scriptures to be the Word is to deny the very Fountain and Well-spring of Comforts to the Soul in Afflictions pag. 12 35 42 44. The Scriptures is corrupted by man Prayer and Supplication to God by his Spirit by Faith in Christ God approveth Christ saith Ye will not come to me that ye may have Life pag. 20 24 44. Animad Both many Creatures and the Gospel were before the Scriptures were written and the Light of the Gospel is more general to ground Faith upon than the Scriptures and it is the Light of the Power or Gospel of God in the hearts And the Gospel is preached in every Creature under Heaven And eternal Life is in Christ the Incorruptible Seed the VVord Spirit Life and Light And God is the very Fountain whose fulness is in Christ and the Well-spring of Comforts to the Soul not the Scriptures This Opposer might as well say the Scriptures are God as the very fountain and well-spring of Comforts And those Unbelievers that thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures were like J. N. and his Brethren who will not come to Christ that they might have Life And if we must Pray and Supplicate God by the Spirit then the immediate guidance of the Spirit of God must be to us a Rule therein not the Letter J. N's Contrad The Scriptures are a perfect absolute Rule in order to man's Salvation for all men to walk by and none other For the sons of men to walk by unto the ends of the world pag. 32 33 34 35. A Second Covenant of his VVill he foretold Jer. 31. is still in force for all men to walk by and none other The Second Covenant was confirmed by the Blood of that spotless Lamb c. The Second Covenant of God's Will in order to man's Salvation was confirmed by the Death of his only begotten Son pag. 27 28. Animad If the second Covenant or new Testament may be the perfect Rule for all men to walk by and none other as is confest then must the immediate Teachings of God in his Spirit be followed and obeyed as the perfect Rule for the New Covenant-way is spiritual to wit the Law and Spirit of God in the inward parts and this is above the Writings or Letter outward which many in remote parts of the world have not Many have not the Bible who have a spiritual Light or Law of God within as the Gentiles had Rom. 2. And Paul was not a Minister of the Letter but of the Spirit wherefore thou that sayest the Scriptures are the absolute Rule for Salvation for all men to the worlds end when many of whom have them not therein thou hast shut out the spiritual Rule of the New Covenant and art one of them that tread the blood of Christ under foot by which the second Covenant was confirmed and ratified And why hast thou such hard thoughts of God as to think thaâ— all Nations that have not the Scriptures outwardly are deprived of Salvation for want of them But in plain Contradiction to thy self The second Covenant is a perfect Rule still in force for all men to walk by and no other J. N's Contrad The Scriptures of the New Testament so confirmed are a perfect Rule for all men to walk by and none other p. 29. The New-Testament Letter is to be our Rule pag. 103. In the second Covenant of his VVill in order to man's Salvation there is the Man Christ Jesus at the right hand of God c. In his second Covenant he hath promised himself to be â—he God of his People 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. pag. 29 30. Animad The Scriptures Writings or Letter outward whether of the Old or New Testament And the second Covenant which is spiritual and inward are two distinct things In this second Covenant God is the Teacher of his People himself immediately by his immediate Spirit Power or Unction within which teacheth the spiritual minds of all things which is true and no lye And what Scripture have Baptists for saying that the New-Testament Letter is to be our Rule Let them produce plain Scripture proof for their Assertion herein or else confess their error For Paâ—l expresly testified that God had made them able Ministers of the New-Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit c. 2 Cor. 3. He doth not say they were Ministers of the Letter of the New-Testâ—ment his words will bear no such meaning for he plainly distinguisheth between the New-Testament and the Letter as he doth between Spirit and Letter Many both Priests and Baptists have and preach from that he calleth the Letter of the New-Testament who never knew the Spirit in its living ministration although the Scriptures testifie thereto J. N's Contrad The Scriptures are a perfect Rule in order to Salvation for all men unto the end of the world The very fountain and well-spring of Comforts to the Soul pag. 44. Act. 3.23 It is said A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren saith Moses like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you observe that Him shall you hear c. In the second Covenant Salvation and Eternal Life to those that obey the same in his Son Christ a way to bring us to Life pag. 23 31 39 40 50. Animad See how manifestly this Opposer hath in these passages broke the neck of his own Cause For if the Son of God must be heard in all things and he the way to Life and Salvation be in him as confest then the Scriptures are not the fountain and well-spring of Comforts God is the Fountain not the Scriptures as most ignorantly and blasphemously is assetted of them Also note how J. N. hath totally confuted and destroyed his Cause of the Scriptures being the only Rule in what follows J. N's Contrad Abel Enoch Abraham Isaac Jacob Noah and the rest of the Holy Men before Moses day I grant they had a sufficient Rule before the Scriptures were written They had a more infallible Word to walk by viz. from God's own mouth than is now to us for it 's possible that some Scriptures might be corrupted This may be granted in the bâ—st sense that the Spirit is the Rule The Spirit is of more efficacy than the Letter I shall freely grant that the Spirit is greater than the Letter c. pag. 104 106 108 110 112. Animad Here 's enough granted to make void all the Baptists work for the Scriptures being the only Rule
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
the only Wise God the only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6.15 where Only is both used in a most eminent sense and excluding all others from that eminence And if in this sense according to Jer. Ives his Instance the Scriptures be taken as the most eminent Rule before and above all other Rule what is this but to set the Scriptures above the Spirit that gave them forth and above all Divine Illuminations although without it the Scriptures cannot be understood which is as much as to set them above God and Christ. And yet Jer. Ives in Contradiction to their own Assertion granted That they did not intend that none have Faith but they that have the Scriptures some may have Faith who have them not c. It follows therefore that that some have the Rule of Faith without the Scriptures See what a deadly blow he hath given to his and their own Cause Jer. Ives God doth not require any thing to be believed as a Point of Faith or to be practised as a Duty for which there is not a Rule laid down in the Scriptures and that there is not any sin committed but what is there mentioned there is no sin that I commit but I may correct it by the Scriptures c. Obs. See how both these passages do egregiously vary from the state of the Question and their general Assertion before Of the Scriptures being the only Rule of Faith For a Rule in the Scriptures and they to be the only Rule are much different And however if it were granted which 't is not That God doth not require any thing to be believed c. or practised as duty for which there is not a Rule laid down which imports a particular Rule or measure specified for every particular point or practice or else not to be believed nor practised then it follows That if there be not a particular Rule in Scripture to prove That the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith nor which so saith of them We are not bound to believe these men's Assertion therein as any Point of Faith for God doth not require us to believe it however they contend for it and would impose it upon our Faith But further 1. If by a Rule laid down it be intended that there is a particular Rule Command or Precept specified exactly to measure every particular duty or thing to be believed or practised by all Christians as there are many express Commands and Precepts expressing the particular duty and forbidding the offence this is not so expressed under a general Command nor yet proved as Jer. Ives endeavoured as when I put the Qâ—estion viz. Whether God doth not or may not by his immediate Power in these dayes raise up and Commissionate Prophets to declare peculiar Messages to particular Places People or Governments yea or nay To this Jer. Ives granted That God might for any thing he knew do so But suppose there may be Prophets now sent with immediate Commission to a particular Place as Rome c. said he The Scripture hath a Rule in it that such Prophets ought to obey their Master and that the Scripture commands to hear Christ in all things and not to quench the Spirit nor despise Prophesie c. Thus far Jer. Ives But while he cannot prove that all those things are particularly prescribed in Scripture which they are to hear and learn of Christ and which are to be prophesied but hath granted the contrary to wit That there may be immediate Commissions and peculiar Messages from God to particular Places c. suppose Rome or London which are not particularly specified in Scripture however Christ is to be heard in all things and his Spirit not to be quenched Therefore it follows that the Scriptures are neither the Rule of those Prophets Faith either for such their Commission or peculiar Messages for they have neither from the Scriptures but immediately from God And therefore if they should go to question their Commission and try such their Messages by the Scriptures and not find them there this would argue unbelief and cause disobedience whereas their particular Commissions and Messages are evidenced to them by the Spirit and Power of God whether it be by Vision or Revelation which is the immediate Object Rule and Foundation of their Faith therein 2dly And in our dayes there hath been such Prophets raised up both to this Nation and City of London witness Humphry Smith's Vision of Fire to London Jo. Rance his Prophecy in Meeter before the Contagion of the great Wo and debacement of London T. Ibbot's Vision of the Fire which he came to proclaim and went through the Streets as a sign thereof and of the great Distraction upon it the day before it broke forth But W.K. his surmise or may be that these might have a hand in it was malitious and wicked as divers present took notice Yea many more have truly foretold of the Judgments and Calamities of this Nation and City and it would be voluminous to repeat what hath been truly foretold by divers of the Servants of the Lord concerning O. C. and those persecuting Professors that persecuted us in his Name and what 's yet to come upon the Persecutors who follow their steps and of the Confusions that his Priests and those persecutors of the Innocent would fall into as also the temporizing of many of them which is manifest both upon many of the Presbyterians Independants and Baptists at this day whose insatiable enmity is still continued against us though they be confounded among themselves and their horns broken that they cannot push as formerly 3dly As the Scriptures are not the Rule of Faith nor is there a particular Rule therein for every individual motion or action so are they not the sole Rule of discovery of sin and evil in men particularly though they witness against all sin Nor are they the immediate or original Obligation upon the Conscience to Righteousness or Duty in the sight of God for it is the Light of Christ within that immediately opens an inward eye that discovers to men their particular sins and guilt and that immediately obligeth to Righteousness and did so oblige man in the beginning before it was so written in letters because of God who both telleth unto man his thoughts and what he ought to do as his duty And whatsoever makes manifest is Light all things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light yea by that Ligâ—t which Christ giveth Eph. 5.13 14. Howbeit every one that doth evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his deeds should be reproved but he that doth truth cometh to the Light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Joh. 3.19 20 21. So that it 's evident the Light is that Rule that tryes and manifests all things and this was before the Scriptures and is where they are not Many over-look and will not see
their own evils though they read those very Scriptures that testifie against them but if they turn to the Light of Christ within it will make them manifest and bring them under a sense of their own guilt therein that they may repent and cease from sin and so receive remission 4thly And now as for this great Point or Article of our present Opposers Faith viz. That the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith the Spirit being absolutely excluded as a Rule by W. K. It is to be noted that since Jer. Ives in a Letter to me saith viz. Though I might own this Question in their sense yet I never owned it in their words c. Whereby the Reader may see That Jer. Ives upon a more deliberate Consideration hath disserted his Brethrens Cause he perceiving as it seems that they cannot maintain the Scriptures to be the only Rule But 1st where he saith He might own it in their sense this is not true For his sense of owning it was That he did not exclude but included the Spirit But his Brother Kiffin's sense was absolutely to exclude the Spirit as a Rule so their senses herein absolutely opposed each other 2dly His saying He never owned it in their words is as false however he now evades or disowns it for many Persons of Credit that were present can testifie as also the Relation of the Discourse taken by an expert Short-writer that he did own the Question whether the Scriptures are the only Rule in these their terms for some time however now he would acquit himself of it and thereby has failed his Brethren and broke the neck of their Cause These few Questions are for W. Kiffin and the rest who own him in his Principle Quest. 1. BY what Rule would you have us believe you when you say the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith and Practice and absolutely exclude the Spirit as a Rule 2. Whether any can truly know and believe the Scriptures without having their understandings divinely enlightned by the Spirit that gave them forth yea or nay 3. Is not the true beginning of Believers in that Spirit In order to Righteousness Life and Salvation 4. Do you own the immediate Teaching of the Spirit or divine Revelation to be attainable in these dayes Or 5. Can any come truly to know the true God or Jesus Christ without immediate Revelation 6. What is the key of true knowledge 7. What was the Rule of Abel Enoch Abraham Moses c. their Faith before the Scriptures were written 8. Do you think the Spirit is to be received in the Scriptures Or that the Letter and the Spirit are inseparable yea or nay 9. What Rule would you make use of for the Conviction of those that either oppose the Divine Authority supposed or Translation of the Scriptures seeing such cannot be Convicted by the Scriptures themselves 10. 〈…〉 Measâ—re and â—â—le whereunto the trâ—e Miniâ—â—ers and belieâ—ing Geâ—â—iles had attained â—hich they were to walk by mentioned 2 Cor. 10 13 15. Phil. 3.16 Gal. 6.16 was that Rule the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament or Bible yea or nay Here follows a few Doctrines asserted by one Wheatly at Lambeth in a Book directed in Manuscript to one Mr. Cox as he calls him this Wheatley seems to be a Brother of these Baptists by his opposing the Light within and pleading for their outward Forms and their Water-Baptism from the Example of Christ's going down into the Water to be Baptized of John Wheatley his Doctrine viz. DO not blame the Devil to exclude the example of the Children of God if he can by any pretence do not blame the Devil to perswade men to trust to the Light within c. pag. 4 5. Answ. However this man seems to be a Friend to the Devil in that he exhorts not to blame him he is grosly mistaken in saying The Devil perswades men to trust to the Light within for the Devil and such his Instruments perswade men against the Light as much as they can for his Kingdom is held up in the dark and his way is darkness it self wherein his Followers walk who will not bring their deeds to the Light lest it should reprove them but the Light of Christ in every man and the sufficiency thereof and the Scriptures of Truth which testifie to it we beat witness unto and against both the Devil and this Opposer and against all such as are in the same spirit of darkâ—â—ss and enmity with him and the Devil who oppose the True Light And he that saith The Devil perswades men to trust to the Light within he hath highly advanced the Devil and conferred as much dignity upon him as the Ranters when they have told us That the Devil is Gods good Servant his faithful Servant c. This is like his blasphemy who setteth the Devil in the place of God's faithful Servants and Ministers whose work it was to perswade men to his Light within but both the Devil and Ranters are enemies to the true Light within W's Doct. There may be a Light amongst men and not within for Jesus Christ said to the Pharisees the Kingdom of God was within them when indeed it was but among them saith he And to prove it he citeth Luke 17.22 Answ. See how he hath proved the Light not within viz. The Kingdom of God was within the Pharisees Christ saith It is within but this Man saith Not within Shall we believe Christ or him But as if he would plainly let us know how he is set to oppose Christ after he hath told us That Jesus Christ said The Kingdom of God was within them In Contradiction to Christ he saith When indeed it was but among them and this to prove the Light not within It is no marvel this man sets himself to oppose Christ's Followers and Servants for asserting his Light within when thus he opposeth Christ himself for saying That the Kingdom of God is within but this man saith it was not within it was but among them Now then here is the case and state of the Controversie Christ and his Followers do bear witness to the Kingdom of God and his Light within But the Devil and his Followers strive and war against the Light and Kingdom of God within as much as they can the Devil he hath blinded their eyes from seeing the Light he hath made fools vassals and slaves of them to do his drudgery to shew their enmity and vomit out their shame and principles of darkness against the Light within Oh! how hath the Devil deceived such wilful Opposers and Unbelievers W's Doct. If God and Christ and Holy Spirit be within them then there is none above them Is not this spiritual pride c. Answ. No it was not spiritual pride in the People of God and Followers of Christ to witness God and Christ to dwell in them neither did this argue at all that God and Christ were not above them for God is
put upon the unlimited God like the old Heretical Monks of Egypt called Anthropomorphites contrary to his own confession J. N's Contrad Christ sitteth Advocate with the Father to plead the vertue of his blood that as there are new sins committed we might through Faith have fresh grace in the pardon thereof pag. 73. The Condâ—scention of God and Christ into the hearts of his People to work up his Saints into the same nature with himself c. God and Christ is holy so his Word is holy Heb. 4.12 and through Faith in this Word Christians are wrought up into the nature of it self and into God Gal. 4.19 Little Children in whom I travel in birth till Christ be formed in you and this to bring them forth into a Gospel purity in heart and life Finally Brethren farewel be perfect be of good comfort c. pag. 78 84 87 88. Animad Wherein the Baptists or others do preach up or plead the continuance of sin in all men even Believers c. term of life This is flatly contradicted in J. N's following words viz. That God and Christ works up his Saints into the same pure Nature with himself which is not a sinful Nature however he tells us of new sins committed which he saith Christ pleads for pardon of And that through Faith in the Word Christians are wrought into the Nature of it self and into God in whom is no sin nor imperfection And where Christ is formed in man he doth not say in a personal being remote and men thereby brought forth into Gospel purity in heart and life c. Such do not alwayes commit or renew new sins which renew the old man but are renewed in Grace and in the new-man by the Spirit of Holiness knowing Christ's Intercession answered viz. that they might be kept from evil Joh. 17.15 to the end The sins of such being done away and blotted out by the blood of Christ which in his Light within is experienced in its vertue and power by such as believe and walk in it 1 Joh. 1.7 Now if J. N's Contradictions as implyed should be thus placed viz. Finally Brethren farewell be Perfect be of good Comfort There are new sins committed c. How would this answer the end of the Command Be Perfect c. Or be any comfortâ—ble Doctrine to any that truly desire perfect freedom from sin and not to live any longer therein Here followeth the Contradictions of Tho. Danson W. Kiffin and Jer. Ives upon their Principle which was viz. Contradict THat the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith T.D. The Scriptures without divine illumination are but the foundation of an Historical Faith and not of a saving Faith The divine illumination of the Spirit is the Foundation or Rule of saving Faith Contradict T.D. W. Kiffin The Director and Rule of Faith and Salvation are two distinct things as the way to Bristol and my Director into the way Yet that Christ is both the Director into the way to God and the Way it self they could not deny Irational Inconsistences Contradictions T.D. That the Light which the Gentiles had Rom. 2. was not sufficient for Salvation That their disobedience to the Light they had was the cause of their condemnation Yet That if they lived up to their Light it would not lead them to Acceptance with God Their Contradictions at the latter Discourse Contradictions W. Kiffin The Spirit of God considered as a Rule is absolutely excluded c. Jer. Ives The Scriptures including the Spirit are the only Rule Our saying the Scriptures are the only Rule does not exclude all other Rule or the Spirits illumination any more than to say God only hath Immortallity doth exclude all else from having Immortality Jo. Newman his Contradiction to W.K. This may be granted in the best sense that the Spirit is the Rule It is of more efficacy than the Letter Contrad W. K. and Alderm Hayes Quest. Whether the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith yea or nay affirmed by them Jer. Ives in his Letter I never owned this Question in their words Animad Here it 's manifest how these men have shaked their own Foundation destroyed their own Cause and are confounded in their Babylonish building they having rejected the chief Corner-stone but they who believe in the Power of God which is known in his Light within and trust in his Everlasting Name shall never be confounded THE END The faults of the Press the ingenuous Reader may perceive by the sense of the matter whether they be points letters syllables or words which are not to be imputed to the Author but corrected whereof these are some ERRATA In the Preface pag. 4. l. 25. the parenthesis is misplaced read it thus Light within not prejudice and darkness judge P. 13. in the Margent read Soc. Scho. l. 30. r. Theodotus P. 14. l. 11. for heirs r. haeresie P. 22. l 4. blot out P. 28. l. 12 dele without P. 35. l. 34. r. or Inferred P. 62. l. 25. for it r. iâ— Of the Scriptures * Note Jer. 2.18 Psal. 36.9 Joh. 4.10.14 7.38 39. Of Christ. See Euseb. Soc. Ecc. Ecc. Cro. fol. 572. Christ called by several Names Christs Resurrection owned and Ascention 1 Cor. 10.4 Christs Body real Professors Confusion about the Body Of God's right hand Euseb. Eccl. Chro. fol. 584 588. Of Christ his second coming Heb. 9.28 Matth. 16.27 Luke 9.26 Heb. 6.6 Revel 11.8 Joh. 3.19 20 21. Job 24.13 Rom. 10. Deut. 30.14 Jer. 8.8 9. 1 Joh. 2.19 2 Tim. 2.17 1 Tim. 1.20 Acts 3.22 23. * Gross ignorance is God any where without His real Being * Christ's Spiritual Birth owned Mat. 5.48 2 Cor. 13.11 1 Pet. 1.14 15 16. Lev. 11.44