in Chap. 3. Vers. 17. of this Epistle the Apostle gives Caution to whom he wrote saying Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these Things beware lest ye also being led away with the Error of the Wicked fall from your own stedfastness For 't is threatned by the Lord That when the Righteous man turneth away from his Righteousness and commits Iniquities and dyeth in them Mark here is included a Total Fall for his Iniquity that he hath done he shall Dye Ezek. 18. 26. and 33. 13. Wherefore we are exhorted to continue in the Grace of God and to keep our selves in the Love of God because of the danger that there is of falling from this Grace for 't is those that endure to the End that shall be saved these are Christ's own words in Mat. 16. 26. Mark 13. 13. 'T is to those that are faithful unto Death to whom is promised a Crown of Life Rev. 2. 10. Such as are implanted into Christ and abide in him they shall inherit the Kingdom For if a man abide not in me saith Christ he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered John 15. 6. And in vers 10. he tells them If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Father's Commandments and abide in his Love Thereby signifying that if we keep not his Commandments neither shall we abide in his Love so then if we abide not in that which keeps us in the Love of God we cannot abide in God for God is Love 1 John 4. 16. See Reader here is a whole Cloud of Witnesses bearing Testimony that'tis Possible if there be not a diligent watching for People to fail of or rather fall from that measure of the true Grace of God which was once given to them Therefore what the Quakers hold in this Point is no New Doctrine For if this could not possibly be how could any do Despight unto the Spirit of Grace or Resist the holy Ghost Yet do this People believe A Christian may come to such a growth and standing in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus from which he cannot fall away according to that Promise in Rev. 3. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the Name of my God and the Name of the City of my God which is New Jerusalem which cometh down from Heaven from my God and will write upon him my New Name And they also believe That such a one may come to be assured that he is in such a state even as the Apostle was who said for I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Heighth nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. CHAP. IX Concerning Perfection VVHich Doctrine though it be firmly founded in Scripture yet is it rejected and set at naught because 't is believed by the Quakers notwithstanding which they freely confess that a perfect Principle they plead for and press the necessity and benefit of man's believing and conformity to it Therefore I ask their Adversaries Is it any Crime to be Perfect To which if they shall answer as in effect they have said This is to be accounted Vile To such my Reply is I hope that the Lord will inable his People to become and be contented to be counted more Vile For to this Abraham was commanded by God under the Old Testament as 't is written Gen. 17. 1. The Lord appeared unto Abraham saying I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect And to this we are commanded by Christ under the New whose words are thus Recorded Mat. 5. 48. Be ye therefore Perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Nor is it only commanded but also promised see Rom. 6. 14. For Sin shall not have Dominion over you And in 22. 23. verses there we find it experienced for the Apostle speaks of such as were made free from Sin and become Servants to God and had their Fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life For the wages of Sin is Death but the gift of God is eternal Life through Iesus Christ our Lord And in Rom. 8. 2. there Paul speaks his own experience For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death saith he And therefore he exhorts the Corinthians Having these Promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. And in 1 Cor. 2. 6. 'T is said the Apostle spake Wisdom among them that were Perfect and in 2 Cor. 12. 9. the Apostle wishes their Perfection and thus he concludes his Epistle to them in the 11th verse of the same Chapter Finally Brethren farewell be perfect c. And this was it the Apostle Iames desired viz. that those to whom he wrote might be perfect and intire lacking nothing Iames 1. 5. For it was the end of the Apostles Ministry that they might present every man Perfect in Christ Jesus labouring servently in Prayer for them that they might stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God And in behalf of the Thessalonians Paul prayeth That the very God of Peace would sanctifie them wholly that their whole Spirit Soul and Body might be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Thessal 5. 23. And we find the Apostle Peter making the same Supplication even that the God of all Grace would make them perfect 1 Pet. 5.10 This being the very end for which God appointed Teachers in his Church as 't is written Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Yea this seems to be the end of Christs giving himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blame see Ephes. 5. 26 27. Therefore those that deny Perfection to be attainable by the Lords People do in effect deny Christ the one Offering For by one Offering he hath perfected forever them that are Sanctified as faith the Apostle Heb. 10. 14. Wherefore saith Iohn Whoso is Born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is born of God 1 John
to inform them in the Principle of True Religion for the Principle of Truth is but One I shall therefore according to the Manifestation of the Spirit given unto me endeavour to signifie What this Principle is From whom it comes and Whereto it leads PART II. Concerning the Principle of Truth What it is From Whom it comes and Whereto it leads § I. IT is a Principle of Divine Light and Life of Christ Jesus placed in the Conscience which opens the Understanding enlightens the Eye of the Mind discovers Sin to the Soul reproves for it and makes it appear exceeding sinful quickens such as accept and believe in it though they were dead in Trespasses and Sins makes them alive to God ang bringeth up into Conformity to the Image of his Son Christ Jesus that he may be the First-born among many Brethren That this Description accords with Apostolical Doctrine see Ephes. 5. 23. All things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Therefore saith Christ Iohn 3. 20 21. 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 Ephes. 2. 4 5 6. But God who is rich in Mercy for his great Love wherewith he loved us when we were dead in Sins hath quickened us together with Christ c. Rom. 8.29 For whom he did fore-know he also did praedestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the First-born among many Brethren Thus is general have I briefly described the Christian-Principle but that I may make it further intelligible unto you I feel it upon me to write more particularly that so when you shall read it by a familiar Demonstration you may the sooner be prevail'd upon to yield to its Operation § II. In the first place This Principle of which I am now writing 't is the Grace of God that brings Salvation and hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godlily in this Present World as saith the Apostle Tit. 2. 11 12. Even that Word of his Grace which is able to build us up and to give us an Inheritance among all those that are Sanctified through Faith which is in Christ Iesus see Acts 2. 8. By which Grace we are Called Iustified and Saved That is If we believe in the same if we receive it and continue therein grounded and settled and be not moved away from the Hope of our Calling nor from the Hope of the Gospel which we have heard and which was preached to every Creature which is under Heaven according as it is written Col. 1. 23. But if we turn this Grace into Wantonness and so receive it in vain then indeed it will not save us However this Grace of God in it self is able and sufficient to save all to whom it appears and all that believe in it and are led by it are preserved because it was by this Grace of God that his Son Christ Jesus should taste Death for every man For there is no difference between the Iew and Greek but the same Lord over all is Rich unto all that call upon him For the Lord is Gracious and full of Compassion slow to Anger and of great Kindness The Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies are over all his Works as you may read Heb. 2. 9. Rom. 10. 12. Psal. 145. 8. 9. All which are clear proofs that the Grace of God is both Free and Universal which Grace of God is else where called the Light of Jesus he being that Gift of Grace given by God to enlighten the Children of Men as 't is written of him Joh. 1. 9. He is that true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World And this is he whom the Father promised by the Mouth of his Prophet saying I will give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles Isa. 42. 6. The same is again spoken of Chap. 49. 6. It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my Servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to restore the Preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a Covenant to the Gentiles that thou may'st be my Salvation to the Ends of the Earth And the Prophet Isaiah speaking to the Church Chap. 60. 20. saith thus The Lord shall be thine Everlasting Light To which the Prophet David brings in his Experience The Lord is my Light and my Salvation saith he Psal. 27. 1. This is indeed the mighty Saviour he upon whom the Father hath laid help and who is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him whose appearance is Light whereby he Discovers and Reproves Sin in men see therefore that none reject him For this is he who hath the Key of David that openeth the Understandings of his People by which they understand the Scciptures when they read them This is he who hath discovered himself to be God manifest in the Flesh and also doth manifest himself in our Mortal Flesh in which we dwell This is he who when he was on Earth yielded both Active and Passive Obedience to his heavenly Father in Life Doctrine and Death which I firmly do believe was a Sacrifice acceptable unto God for the Sins of Men by believing in whom and yielding Obedience to him Pardon and Remission of Sins comes to be known and so the Creature finds Acceptance with the Father through the Son This is he who justifies by Faith in his own Name This is he which imputes his own Righteousness to the Children of men without whose applicatory act and gift of Grace in imputing his own Righteousness unto us all creaturely actings are but in vain This is he that hath laid down his Life for us and took it upon again for saith he I have Power so to do John 10. 18. And by the same Power that raised his own Body out of the Grave doth and will he raise up the Souls and Bodies of Believers to glorifie his great Name For this is he that Acquits his People of all Sin old as well as new taking away and cleansing them from the Sins of their first and fallen Natures as well as pardoning upon Repentance those Sins which some have at unawares or through weakness fallen into after they have received the Knowledge of the Truth For he who is called the Light of the World Iohn 8. 12. Iohn 1. 9. the same is called the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World vers 29. And therefore was his Name called Jesus a Saviour for it was said he should save his People from their Sins Mat. 1. 21. This is he who baptizeth his People with the Water of Life and Regeneration and sealeth up his
doubtless Abel as well as Abraham saw Christ's Day to come notwithstanding neither of them had any Scripture Revelation of him For Abraham saw Christ's Day afar off and rejoyced many Ages before the Scriptures were recorded and by the same Faith no doubt Abel looked beyond the Firstlings of his own Flock to Christ the First-born of God who was to be made an Offering for Sin as the Anti-type which these typified otherwise his Sacrifice had not obtained Acceptance with the Lord for he is the Propitiation for our Sin and through Faith in his Blood we come to know Remission which agrees to that of the Apostle Rom. 3. 25. Again I appeal unto you What Witness was it that Abel obtained of his being Righteous or how did God testifie of his Gift since Moses who writes the Story in Gen. 4. 4 5. to whom the Author to the Hebrews refers gives us no farther account but only this The Lord had respect to Abel and to his Offering but to Cain and to his Offering he had no respect Now I ask How was this manifested or how came they to know it how should Abel know that his Offering was accepted since Cain was as forward yea beforehand with his Brother in offering had not God signified it to them by the Manifestation of his Spirit in them even that same Spirit by which they came to know it to be their Duty to offer Sacrifice unto him But Cain sticking in the Form and not flying on the Wing of Faith to Christ the one Offering mist the Mark that should have been aimed at by him and for this cause God rejected both him and his Offering as you may read in the following Verses of this 4th Chapter of Genesis where the Lord expostulates the Case with Cain saying Why art thou Wrath and why is thy Countenance fallen if thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted but if thou dost not well Sin lieth at thy Door So that it was for Evil-doing Cain lost the Acceptance of his Offering which seems clear to me that God had no Respect to Abel personally more then he had to Cain but as he had an Eye to the promised Seed to be accepted in even Christ Jesus the Eternal Son of God in whom alone the Father is well pleased And it is also as clear to me through the Openings of the same Spirit That by the Spirit of his Son in their Hearts he gave Testimony of their Gifts to Abel that his was accepted and to Cain that his was rejected for Cain must needs have a Manifestation of the Spirit otherwise how should he know it to be his Duty to offer Sacrifice as you may see he did for we read not of any outward Precept that either of them had to enjoyn it Now then if it was a living in-wrought Faith whereby Abel obtained Acceptance of his Offering and if it was by an inward Manifestation of the Spirit by which God gave testimony thereof unto him if this be granted I hope the Way of Truth will no longer be Evil spoken of which is the same now that it was in the Beginning And this brings me to that which I chiefly intend which is as I said to rectifie your Mistakes concerning and to inform you in that which I hope you will see not to be a New but the Old True Religion which is the Way of this People amongst whom I now walk and desire to walk notwithstanding they are accounted a Sect every where spoken against I marvel not that the World hates them since it hated him to wit Christ Jesus whom they have believed in because he rectified thereof that the Works of it were Evil see Iohn 7. 7. And truly my Friends this is the Testimony this People bears this day against the corrupt Wayes and Practices of the World both among Professors and Prophane telling of them plainly That all Unrighteousness is Sin and for this cause I know were Power given into Mens Hands they should quickly be rooted out from amongst them But though they put no trust in an Arm of Flesh yet they have a strong Tower of Defence even the Name of the Lord which they run into and are safe This is their Munition of Rocks whereunto their Adversaries cannot climb up and though they do what in them lie to pull them out from thence yet their Arm is too short to reach them their Strength too weak to hurt them their Power of no force against them whilst they abide in this safe place notwithstanding great is the Wrath of the Enemy who intends them Mischief so that what he cannot do by Power he will seek to do by Policy insinuating into the Minds of People That though 't is the Spirit of Truth which they pretend unto yet 't is a Spirit of Error that they are led by which Suggestion of Satan has taken place in the Hearts of so many that were not the God of Truth engaged on their side to perswade people from this false Opinion concerning them it would seem an utter Impossibility But knowing and being well assured of this viz. That the Lord's Strength is made perfect in his Peoples Weakness I as one of the least of the Thousands of Israel have undertaken in his Name to go forth against those who have risen up against them though I know many are the cruel Mockings and hard Usings from Prophane on the one hand with evil Surmisings and severe Censurings from Professors on the other that hath been the Lot of this People to bear some of which from the latter of these to whom I chiefly write I hope has not been so much out of Disaffection to the Truth as Misapprehension about the Principle of it as believing that this People in whose behalf I am now constrained to write preach Damnable Doctrine-the which I have heard reported of them some say ing They deny the Scriptures others saying They deny the Man Christ Iesus with all the Benefits that by his Active and Passive Obedience as also by his offering up of himself a Sacrifice to God for us do thereby accrue to us together with Iustfiication by Faith which is in him and the Imputation of his Righteousness to Man others somewhat more moderate yet have affirmed That whatever they may own as to the Death of Christ yet they deny the Resurrection of his Body and of the Bodies of Believers so that they have said Though they dare not charge them with Dimnable Doctrine yet certainly they are of very dangerous Opinions as concerning Original Sin and the Institution of the Sacraments and in Point of Free will and Inherent Righteousness and in holding a Possibility of a Total Fall from True Grace and yet they plead Perfection and reckon themselves infallible say they for all this and herein they liken them to the Papist These are some of the Foul Aspersions False Accusations and Misrepresentations that have been cast upon this People which I my self have
Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him who is over all God blessed forever Amen Col. 1. 16. Rom. 9. 5. These together with the Testimonies Jesus gave of himself Iohn 8. 38. Verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am John 10. 30. I and my Father are one John 15. 5. there he Prayes And now Oh Father glorifie thou me with thine own self and with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was In like manner he speaks of his own Eternity Proverbs 8. chap. from the 23d to the end to which agrees that application given to him of wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Isa. 9. 6. These things I say the Quakers believing according as they are written and having an experience of in themselves by the effectual working of the mighty Power of Christ Jesus in their Hearts are sufficient proofs to them of his Divine substance and also to make them see what is the Fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ as 't is written Ephes. 3. 9. Wherefore they know the Son to be one and equal in Power with the Father Now if any shall object that Scripture where Christ saith My Father is greater then I. Answ. That must needs be understood only as he assumed the Nature of Man not at all relating to the fulness of the God-head that dwelleth Bodily in him as 't is written Col. 2. 9. So likewise the Author to the Hebrews describes him chap. 1. 2 3. verses To be the brightness of the Fathers Glory and the express Image or Character of his Substance for so the Word Person ought to be rendered by whom also he made the Worlds And therefore I believe and so do they in whose behalf I write that Jesus Christ is very God 3 dly I affirm they do believe that this Jesus or this God was manifest in the Flesh as saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 3. 16. And Iohn the Evangelist Chap. 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth And Paul to the Hebrews chap. 2. 16. speaking of Christ saith For verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels but he took on him the Seed of Abraham 4 thly Therefore in the fourth place I affirm The Quakers do faithfully own this Jesus to be the Mediator according to the Testimony of the Apostle 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Iesus who gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due time 5 thly I affirm they own his obedience also for I know they do believe that Christ Jesus in the dayes of his Flesh was obedient to God as becometh a Son unto a Father in all things For he came not to do his own Will but the Will of him that sent him wherefore we find him Praying to his Father Nor my Will but thine be done Yea moreover 't is written of him Hebrews 5.8 Though he were a Son yet learned he Obedience by the things which he suffered For he was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastizments of our Peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are healed as saith the Prophet Isaiah chap. 53. 3 5. Therefore these do confess to his Sufferings according to the Scriptures for Christ also hath once suffered for Sin the Just for the Unjust that he might bring us to God being put to Death in the Flesh but quickned by the Spirit see 1 Pet. 3. 18. Likewise they own his Death as an acceptable and most satisfactory Sacrifice to God for the Sins of all and is of blessed advantage to all that shall receive Faith in his Blood which agrees to Rom. 3.25 Ephes. 5.2 Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God And he hath given himself for us an offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Also they believe that as Christ dyed for our Sins so he was buried likewise and rose again according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. Again vers 20 21. 't is said But now is Christ risen from the Dead and become the first Fruits of them that Sleep For since by Man came Death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead So in Acts 17. 31. The Apostle mentions this as the assurance which God gave to men of his judging the World at the great Day by his Son Christ Jesus namely his having raised him from the Dead Now 6 thly and Lastly I affirm They do believe that from Christ Jesus these and such like Benefits extend to true Believers First Election in him according as God hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in Love as 't is recorded in Ephes. 1. 4. Mark 'T is in him we are elected not in our selves as though personally some were chosen and others past by but in the Seed Christ the Elect of God the Object of the Father's Love all who are gathered into him are made a chosen Generation an Elect People by the Lord. 2. Vocation this also they own to be a Benefit bestowed on them by the Father in the Son for that they who were by nature Children of Wrath as well as others have been called of God in Christ with an High and Holy Calling to obtain Mercy from him even to become Saints that so they should shew forth the Vertues of him who hath called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light 3. Reconciliation to God as saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 18 19. All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Iesus Christ and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation to wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself So Coll. 1.20,21,22 it s said And having made Peace through the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven and you who were sometimes alienated and Enemies in your Minds by wicked Works yet now hath he reconciled in the Body of his Flesh through Death to present you holy unblameable unreprovable in his Sight 4. Sanctification and Iustification I put both these together because though I do grant they may be distinguished yet I cannot see how they can be divided being so near of kin that if one languish t'other cannot but greatly mourn besides the Apostle is my President in coupling of them
speaking to the Corinthiaens in his first Epistle chap. 6. 11. saith But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God But more of this in another place 5. Adoption as 't is written Ephes. 1. 5. Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Iesus Christ to himself according to the good Pleasure of his Will To the like purpose is that in Rom. 8. 29. For whom he did fore-know he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the First-born among many Brethren To which accords Iohn 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to as many as believe in his Name 6. A sixth Benefit is Forgiveness of and Redemption from all Sin as saith the Scripture Ephes. 1. 7. In whom we have Redemption through his Blood the Forgiveness of Sins according to the Riches of his Grace So Titus 2. 13 14. Looking for that blessed Hope and Glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Iesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works And 1 Iohn 3. 8 5. 't is said For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil and ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin 7. Victory over Satan Forasmuch as the Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood he also took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death that is the Devil see Hebr. 7. 14. So that his strength being broken and his power destroyed by the Captain of our Salvation if we resist him stedfast in the Faith he will flee from us as 't is written Iames 4. 7. 8. Another Benefit is Access to God by Faith as saith the Apostle Ephes. 3. 12. In whom we have Boldness and Access with Confidence by the Faith of him And as we have Access to God by him so likewise we find Acceptance with God in and through him 9. Through him we receive A sure Hope of Eternal Life as 't is recorded Hebr. 9. 15. And for this Cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of Death for the Redemptions of the Transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the Promise of the Eternal Inheritance Thus 't is confest that in Christ Jesus we are Elected Called Reconciled to God Sanctified Justified Adopted by him we obtain Pardon and Redemption from all Sin through Faith in his Name we find Access to God and Acceptance with him in him we are made Victors over Satan and Heirs of Life Eternal Now Reader thou may'st see how falsly the Quakers have been accused in laying to their Charge They deny that Christ which came in the flesh with the Obedience he thereon performed by his Sufferings Death Resurrection from the Dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also the Benefits that thereby are obtained which things never were by them denyed for they know that the Son of God is come and hath given them an Understanding that they know him that is true and they are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and eternal Life see 1 Iohn 5. 20. But for further satisfaction concerning their Faith herein if any do desire it they may see a Book put sorth by George Whitehead intitilled The Divinity of Christ and Vnity of the Three that hear Record in Heaven with the blessed End and Effects of Christ's Appearance Coming in the Flesh Suffering and Sacrifice for Sinners Confessed and Vindicated Now concerning Iustification by Faith in Jesus Christ and the Imputation of his Righteousness to Believe's Here also it may be seen how grosly this People have been abused how greatly their Principle hath been misrepresented For Justification by Faith they own as hath publickly been confessed by them according to these Scriptures By the deeds of the Law shall no Flesh be justified in his sight wherefore the Law was our School-Master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by Faith To declare I say at this time his Righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Iesus For by Grace are ye saved through Faith and that not of our selves it is the Gift of God not of Works lest any man should boast for we are his Wormanship created in Christ Iesus unto good Works not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour that being justified by Grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life But then it must be a living Faith according to the definition of the Apostle Iames in the second Chapter of his Epistle And it must be such a Faith as purifies the Heart and is held in a pure Conscience and is manifest in the Life by Works of love and gives Victory over the World For in Christ Iesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love saith Paul Gal. 5. 6. And this is the Victory whereby we overcome the World even our Faith saith Iohn 1 Joh. 5. 4. Therefore say I without this real Faith 't is impossible we should please God or be justified in his sight Yet now because these my Friends have distinguished between Faith and Fancy therefore they have been calumniated and their Principle traduced by many So likewise as to the imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ this they own according to the Scriptures even as David describeth the Blessedness of the man whose Transgression is forgiven and whose Sin is covered saying Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity and in whose Spirit there is no Guile Psal. 32. 1 2. And Abraham being justified by Faith 't is said he received the sign of Circumcision a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith which he had yet being Uncircumcised that he might be the Father of all them that believe though they be not Circumcised that Righteousness might be imputed to them also Rom. 4. 11. Wherefore this People believe acceptance with the Father is only in Christ and by his Righteousness made ours or imputed unto us by the inward Work and applicatory act of God's Gift of Grace whereby he is made unto the Soul Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption but because they deny the Righteousness of Christ to be imputed where it is not imparted and distinguish between Imagination and Imputation between reckoning or imputing that is real and reckoning or imputation that is not real but a fancy and dare not own the point in the
Latitude of that Sin-pleasing Principle to which it is stretched as if men might be imputatively Holy though not inwardly Holy and imputatively Righteous though not really Righteous therefore they are clamoured upon as if they denyed the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness when it is only to those who are not made Righteous by it to walk as he walked For the Scripture doth not say that he that saith he is Righteous by the imputation of Christ's Righteousness but he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous 1 John 3. 7. What then shall we Sin and yet think to be saved by the imputed Righteousness of Christ because we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid that we should Sin in this state of Grace saith the Apostle Rom. 6. 15. Indeed the whole Chapter speaks the same sence viz. that it is not our Imputation or reckoning of Christ's Righteousness to our selves will justifie us but he imparting and imputing it to us and this shall suffice in Answer to the second general Charge against this People in every particular of which may be seen what gross abuses have been cast upon them whereby the envious and ill-affected have sought to cover their Principles with their own perversions and so to make Truth it self become rejected But I shall in the next place speak to those I take to be more moderate and such whom I have sometime found my self much swayed by But since I find it was more by Education and Tradition then any certain evidence I could have of the Truth of that Religion I find my self oblieged to detect those Errors in publick which I have heard divers of them cast upon the People called Quakers in private charitably judging they speak not so much against them out of ill will as ignorance of and unacquaintance with their blameless Principle though this is bad enough for People to speak Evil of things they know not and for such as are divided amongst themselves to joyn together against others as some have confessed to me that though they differ in many particulars yet they all agree in this to set their Seal against the Quakers but who they were I have and shall at present conceal desiring not to expose them but to inform them that so setting before them their Errors and Mistakes some of them at least may see and Repent them wherein they have spoken and done amiss CHAP. III. Touching the Resurrection of the Body of Christ and of the Saints AS concerning the Resurrection of the Body of our blessed Lord Jesus and also the Bodies of Believers this I have been born down in that the Quakers do not own In answer to which though I had something to Reply in their behalf at that season yet I must confess the respect I had to my Friend who affirmed the same made me a little incline to that Perswasion of them But now being better acquainted with their Principle I must needs add that this report is an utter Falshood for they do believe as 't is recorded in the Scriptures that Christ Jesus who descended into the lower parts of the Earth the same ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things and sits now at the Right-Hand of God in his glorious Body and therefore shall the low estates and humbled Body of Believers be made like unto his glorious Body through the working of his mighty Power whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself and then shall this Corruptible put on Incorruption and this Mortallity put on Immortallity and Death it self shall be swallowed up of Victory So here likewise it may be noted how their Adversaries have been disappointed For first it was the design of some to have made Saduces of them by giving out that they deny the Resurrection as it was said of them Acts 23.8 For the Saduces say There is no Resurrection neither Angel nor Spirit Thus some have sought to render these as if at Death they believed Soul and Body were both to be annihilated But when this would not take then they reported that the Body only was that which the Quakers held should never rise again Here Reader thou mayst see how they have been slandered both wayes for they do believe the Resurrection of the Just and of the Unjust the one to Salvation and the other to Condemnation according to the Judgment of the great Day And then shall every Seed have its own Body as saith the Scriptures Acts 24. 15. Iohn 5.29 1 Cor. 15. 38. But because they dare not be so foolishly inquisitive as to ask nor so arrogant in their Minds as to dertermine with that Bodies they shall rise therefore do some say They deny the Resurrection of the Body of Christ and of all that are or shall be dead But this is most falsly charged upon them for they do believe the Resurrection of the Dead for if the Dead rise not they are of all men most miserable What can be a Ballance of an Equal Poix with the Tryals Exercises Afflictions and Persecutions that are their Lot and Portion in this Life short of an Eternal Inheritance and a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Therefore they also believe that every man shall be raised in his own order Christ the First Fruits afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming yea they do believe that the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and that God giveth a Body as it pleaseth him and to every Seed his own Body there is a Natural Body and a Spiritual there are Bodies Terrestrial and Bodies Coelestial wherein they agree with the Testimony of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 23 43 44. which I think is sufficient to give all sober Inquirers full satisfaction herein For as to my own particular I freely do confess it suffices me that God will give unto my Spirit such a Body as it pleases him CHAP. IV. Concerning Original Sin AS to Original Sin in which the Quakers are judged to be of so Dangerous an Opinion without shewing to me what that Opinion was I Answer Though the word Original be not sound in Scripture yet if any mean hereby the inward Corruption and Seed of Sin which Satan hath sown in us and wherewith we are defiled in our first and fallen Nature I am sure this will not be denyed by any true Quaker for they know and believe that in the first Adam all are Sinners but in the second Adam which is the Lord from Heaven we are made Righteous for as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive as 't is written 1 Cor. 15. 22. But though it be granted that by one Man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin and so Death passed upon all Men for that All have sinned even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's Transgression who is the Figure of him that was to come Rom. 5. 12. 14. yet this doth
not prove the Lord to be so partial in his Love towards his Creatures as to choose some but leave the greatest part of Mankind in the fallen state without affording them any Benefit by Christ or a Measure of his Grace and Spirit for want of which and being so past by of God as somehave asserted they become under a necessity of sinning a necessity of dying Oh harsh Doctrine and so I must confess I often thought it whilst I was industromsly striving to work my self into a Belief of it but now from a certain experimental Knowledge and in full assurance of Faith can I testifie for God He is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that seareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him For though all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God wherefore he hath concluded all under Sin 't is that he might have Mercy upon all not willing that any should perish in Sin but that all might come to Repentance Moreover than this the Scriptures do abundantly speak forth the extent and Benefit of Christ's Death for all Mankind upon condition of Faith and Repentance joyned with new and continued Obedience which are the Gospel Terms on which he is offered to them For Christ Jesus gave himself a Ransom for all he tasted Death for every Man so saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 2. 5. Hebr. 2. 9. So that it is a certain Truth all that are or shall be saved are elected only in Christ Jesus that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life There is no Prae-exception or absolute Fore-appointment as partially designed in relation to Persons but upon Man's Disobedience Wherefore it shall not be said The Fathers have eaten sour Grapes and the Childrens Teeth are set on edge but he that eateth the sour Grapes his Teeth shall be set on edge for all Souls are the Lord's as the Soul of the Father so also the Soul of the Son is his aud he hath said The Soul that sinneth it shall dye Ezek. 18. 2 4. Yet hath the Lord no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his way and live Wherefore he hath given the Beloved of his Soul out of his Bosom to come into the World to same men from their Sins that they might be made accepted in him Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all men unto Justification of Life read Rom. 5. 18. which makes it clear to me the Lord will not condemn any for Adam's Sin who have not demerited his Wrath by Actual Trausgression CHAP. V. Concerning the Sacraments AS touching the Institution of the Sacraments so called by which is meant Water-Baptism and the outward Supper here also is another great Charge brought in against the Quakers unto which I cannot but be very tender in the Answer for I must confess I my self did once think them very chargeable in this Matter Now that Baptism even the Outward and Tipical Baptism was an Ordinance that is so say a Thing ordained by one that hath power to Ordain as Iohn Baptist had Command from God to Baptize this I do believe and own But then the Lord himself hath ordained a higher Baptism whereby he saveth which surely is not the outward no that 's not of Efficacy to obtain or effect such an End which is Salvation as that I think our Enemies themselves will grant and then why are they so angry with us that we do not own it in their Outward Form But the One Baptism necessary to Salvation I do believe is Inward and Spiritual being that of the holy Ghost fore-told by Iohn the Baptist Mat. 3. 11. I indeed Baptize you with Water unto Repentance saith he but he that cometh after me is Mightier then I whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall Baptize you with the holy Ghost and with Fire This is the Baptism which Christ commanded his Disciples that they should wait for and therefore I call it an Ordinace because ordained by Christ as you may read Acts 1. 45. And being assembled together with them he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the Promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me for John truly baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost not many days hence The same did Peter Witness Acts 11. 15 16. And as I began to speak saith he the holy Ghost fell on them as on us in the beginning then remembred I the word of the Lord how he said John indeed baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost Now if any shall Oppose these Scriptures to prove outward and Water Baptism now in force Mat. 28. 19. Go teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father c. John 3. 5. Except a man be born of Water of the Spirie he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like Figure whereunto even Baptism doth now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead Something I shall write by way of Answer to them these being the chief Texts that ever I heard brought to prove the same As to the first I say that must needs mean the Baptism of which I am now speaking viz. Spiritual Baptism for Christ's bidding of them go denotes their being impowred from him to Baptize in or rather Into his own and his Father's Name which is the true Spiritual Baptism besides here is no Water made mention of whence we may infer the Apostles Ministry was to be the Laver in which they were to be baptized See here their Mission Christ bids them go Teach Baptizing Baptizing is in the Present Tence whilst they were Teaching and as it was then so it is now the Spiritual and Inward Baptism goes along with the preaching of the Word of Life To the second Scripture I Answer If our Opponents will have that mean Material Water may not we then as well conclude that Iohn Baptist meant Christ would Baptize them with Material fire but if we understand the Power of the holy Ghost to burn up the Stubble that naturally grows in us by the latter then must we also understand the same Power to cleanse us from our natural Filth by the former But I know it will be expected I should prove this by Scripture for which see Tit. 3. 5. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done faith the Apostle but according to his Mercy he saved us by the Washing of Regeneration and Renexing of the holy Ghost Here is the Washing of Regeneration to parallel being born again of Water and the renewing of the holy Ghost to answer being born again of the Spirit for
let them read Rom. 8. 11. and they will find the Apostle speaking expresly If the Spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Therefore as I said before 't is no Arrogancy for the People of God to own that they have the Spirit of God dwelling in them for 't is not the Light of Nature nor the Dictates of a Natural Conscience but a Spiritual Divine Principle by which Men and Women are raised from the Death of Sin to serve God in Newness of Life and Obedience of Conversation No Reader let me tell thee Nothing Natural will or can reach so far Nature cannot change Nature it must be a higher Power that can cause to put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is Corrupt according to Deceitful Lusts by renewing the Spirit of the Mind so as to cause us to put on the New Man Christ Jesus which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness and so Old Things are made to pass away behold all things are become New Lo here is a New Creature as there is a putting off the Old Man with his Deeds there is a passing away of the first Heavens and the first Earth and then behold New Heavens and a New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness as there is a coming to this Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which Law is inward written in the Heart and Engraven on the Inward Parts there is a setting Free from the Law of Sin and Death And so we come to know a Blotting out of the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances which was against us and contrary to us our Lord having taken them and nailed them to his Cross. And thus He that believeth in the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God unto Salvation hath a Witness in himself the Spirit it self beareth them Witness that they are the Children of God according to that in 1 Iohn 5.10 Rom. 8.16 And as they continue in the Faith they come to be sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise and to set to their Seals that God is True For Faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it he hath promised to redeem us from all Iniquity wherefore let us hope in his Word and not grieve his holy Spirit whereby we are sealed unto the Day of our compleat Redemption according to the Apostle's Advice Ephes. 4. 30. O! let us take heed that we do not vex and quench the Spirit of Christ within us that so we be not of those complained of by Nehemiah To whom the Lord gave his good Spirit but they rebelled against it And what then so he became their Enemy and fought against them These were such of whom Iob speaks Chap. 24. 13. saying They are of those that rebel against the Light the Light and Spirit here spoken of being one in Being and not divided but distinguished only in degrees of Discoveries for this Spirit is a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ which openeth and enlighteneth the Eye of the Vnderstanding and giveth to know what is the Hope of the Calling of Christ Iesus and what is the Riches of the Glory of his inheritance in the Saints according to the Apostle's Prayer to God for the Ephesians Chap. 1. 17 18. And this was it that Christ promised when he was about to leave his Disciples as to his Personal presence amongst them at which their Hearts began to be sorrowful he therefore tells them to comfort them he that dwelleth with you shall be in you John 14. 17. Thereby he meant himself who then was present with but passing from them in the Flesh would come again unto them and abide forever with them in the Spirit For the Lord is that Spirit saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 3. 17. Wherefore he bids them Examine themselves whether they be in the Faith Prove your own selves saith he know you not your own selves how that Christ is in you Except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. And hereby know we that we are not in a Reprobate state because we witness the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us For this Principle of which I write 't is the Unction which we have received from the holy One whereby we know all things that is this doth instruct us in all things that are necessary to be known by us For 't is that spiritual anointing that the Apostle Iohn speaks of which those who have received it and in whom it abides need not that any man teach them but as the same anointing teacheth them all things and is Truth and is no Lye even as it hath taught them they should abide in him 1 John 2. 14. that is in Christ Jesus from whom this anointing doth come Now whoso is taught by this Anointing the same is taught by God as it is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me saith Christ Iohn 6.45 For this was the Promise of the Father even the new Covenant which he made with the House of Israel After those Dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their Minds and write them in their Hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest Ier. 31. 33 34. This being the Tennure of the New Covenant That all the Children of the Lord shall be taught of the Lord and in Righteousness shall they be established Isa. 54. 13 14. Which implies that God will teach them so effectually by his Free Spirit that they shall not stand in need of any other Prophet But here I must obviate an Objection before I can proceed Possibly some may ask me Why then do those People that thou art now gone amongst keep up their Publick Meetings to Preach and to Teach People the Way of Salvation What need is there of their Teaching if every one hath a Teacher in them able to Instruct them in the Way to the Kingdom To whom I Answer First Though I did say as much as that every one hath a Divine Teacher in them yet I did not say that every one knows this Teacher in them For this hath been the Misery of many Ages of the World People have gone out after the many Lo here 's and Lo there 's to find Christ without them in the mean time neglecting his Appearance within them even as was foretold by Christ himself when he was on Earth in the days of his Flesh In the Last Dayes saith he they shall say Lo here is Christ and Lo he is there but go ye not out after
brought forth and comes to have the Government in the Soul it must shall and will Reign over Death Darkness Sin and Corruption and all the Powers of Hell and the Devil I would have none think strange of what I have writ concerning this Thing though I know 't is a Mystery to the Natural Understanding of the wifest of the Children of Men and therefore since Paul was called a Babler for preaching such strange Doctrine to the Stoick Phylosophers Acts 17. 8. I can expect no better from some but to be counted a Non-sensical Scribler for writing of the same but this I am content to bear knowing in my self I had no Previous Intentions to amuse my Reader but having undertaken to describe in measure the extent of this powerful Principle of God placed in the Consciences of his Creatures following the Foot steps thereof for my Guide in this Matter Before I can attain to the End of my Journey I am necessarily brought hither and as I stand here I see by the Light of this Spiritual Pillar of Fire that though the Sea with the Waves thereof Roar yet is there a Way for the ransomed of the Lord to pass over and this Way is Christ the Light the Lamb the Grace the Gift of God given by the Father to bring out of the Fall which all Mankind are in by Nature that whosoever believeth in him layeth hold on him and continueth to be led by him should be brought into Fellowship with himself and abide therein forever and this same is he who leads in the midst of the Paths of Judgment and through the many Exercises that I have been writing of before he brings to the Banks of Salvation puts Songs of Deliverance into our Mouthes whereby we can sing of the Mercies of the Lord And thus having brought out of spiritual AEgypt's Land and caused to drink deep of the River of Judgment he then brings to Shiloh's Brook and giveth to drink of the Waters of Refreshment So 't is the same Hand that wounded which healeth and that Arm which broke us doth now bind us up the same Power which killed reviveth and he who once caused grief now giveth Songs in the Night And appointeth to Zion's Mourners Beauty for Ashes the Oyl of joy for Mourning and a Garment of Praises for the Spirit of Heaviness and who will in due time bring all his true spiritual Israel out of the Waste Howling Wilderness into a Land of Everlasting Rest. Thus it appears that the Light of Jesus in the Conscience is no Natural Insufficient Thing as some have sought to render it being something of God placed in every Man to witness against all sin convincing and reproving for that which is Evil contrary-wise prompting exciting and inclining to that which is good so that as many as yield to the Motives of it it is sufficient not only to condemn and to destroy but also to justifie and save being a measure of the Living Omnipotent Power of that One Law-giver who is able to save as well as to destroy see Iames 4. 12. which Power is Christ as saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. We preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a Stumbling Block and unto the Greeks Foolishness but unto them that are Called both Jews and Greeks Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God who as he was once manifest in the Flesh so now is he manifest in Spirit to be that Covenant of Light which the Father promised by the Mouth of his holy Prophet Isa. 42. 6. And this Light Power and Arm is in measure extended and reached forth at one time or other unto all people for the gathering unto him in whom the Election stands that so as many as obey his Call in yielding themselves to be gathered by this gathering Arm may make their Election and consequently their Salvation sure in him For this is he who would have gathered Ierusalem and saved her from that Ruin and Destruction which afterwards came upon her because she knew not the time of her Visitation 'T is the very same Jesus and no other whom we believe in for our Saviour who by his spiritual Appearance in the Hearts of the Children of men gives Light gives Life gives Power and Victory over sin to as many as follow the Leadings and Guidance of this Immaculate Lamb for 't is given to the Lamb and his Followers to overcome and who so overcometh shall sit down with the Lamb on his Throne and live and reign with him for evermore Rev. 3. 21. 12 11. Even the same which was with his Church in the Wilderness being that Spiritual Rock that followed them of which they drank by the way and were refreshed in him who is the Rock of Ages the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End the First and the Last the Antient of Dayes whose Dominion is an Everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed whose goings forth have been from of Old from Everlasting For he is the blessed and only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords who only hath Immortallity and Eternal Life to whom be Glory and Honour Dominion and Power henceforth and forever Here now ye have a Description and that in Scripture Dialect concerning the Principle of our Faith something I have writ as to the Nature of it which though at first it causeth grief and brings in sorrow upon the Soul yet doth this sorrow work Repentance never to be repented of after which cometh reviving so that it was truly said Though Weeping may endure for a Night yet Ioy cometh in the Morning for they that sow in Tears shall reap in Ioy he that goeth forth Weeping bearing precious Seed shall doubtless come again Rejoycing bringing his Sheaves with him And such shall surely say In the Lord have we Righteousness and strength for in the Lord shall all the Seed of Israel be justified and shall Glory in him not in Wisdom Wealth nor Strength but in this that they know him to be the Lord who exerciseth Loving-kindness Iudgment and Righteousness in the Earth as saith the Prophets Isa. 45.24,25 Ier. 9.23,24 And this is he whom we acknowledge to be our Iudge and Law-giver yea he is our King and he will save us for to this end hath he appeared by his Light in our Hearts and for this end doth he appear in the Hearts of all men that as many as bow down to the measure of his Appearance in them may thereby see and be enabled to forsake their Wayes and Doings which have not been good whereby they may be saved from sin and by the same saving Power and Spirit in their Hearts come to be led into the Way of all Truth which Way of Truth is Christ our Mediator and Intercessor with the Father through whom man comes to be accepted of God as he cometh into him in whom alone the Father