appointment this part of the Supper being laid aside as Jewish fulfilled and ended by Christ. And therefore to us that last Supper of Christ appears to be a Consummation and fulfilling of the Jewish solemn Feasts under the Law as John's Baptism was of the divers legal Washings or Baptisms imposed until the time of Reformation when Christ blotted out and nailed the Hand-writing of Ordinances to his Cross. After which they were not legally obligatory though condescended unto for a Season by reason of the Weakness of divers and Respect many had unto them in the Churches Infancy And tho' too many now are very formal and superstitious in those outward Observations and Shadows laying so much stress for Salvation upon them that they neglect the Substance yet others being more conscientiously tender in the observation thereof we are the more tender to these so as not to censure or condemn them meerly for practising that which they believe is their Duty either in breaking of Bread or Water Baptism yet desire they may see further and come under that higher and evangelical Dispensation of the spiritual Communion and Bread of Life and Cup of Blessing from Heaven which can only nourish the Soul unto eternal Life and of the spiritual Baptism of Christ which only is the Soul 's sanctifying and saving Baptism so that this One Baptism and this One Bread which is the Substance they may livingly partake of unto eternal Life We do hitherto want Proof that Paul either received of the Lord the Bread and the Cup or the real Supper of the Lord in the Figure or Type but the Mystery thereof or that to observe the Figure was an Institution of Christ to continue in the spiritual Church And tho' he fulfilled the Command of the Passover at his Supper we have no reason to think that was his own Institution to continue in the Christian Church no more than the Passover Legal Offerings Circumcision c. We confess That the neglect and abuse of the Holy Mystery p. 207. which is the Substance Christ the living Bread did and doth incur Damnation and grievous Diseases as among the Corinthians He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning he Lord's Body 1 Cor. 11. 29. If you rest or stick in the Shadow and neglect the Substance or Mystery so as you discern not the Lord's Body you discern not that whereby your Souls should live and be nourished unto eternal Life 'T is Matter of Condemnation you are but eating and drinking Damnation to your selves The main end and drift of the Apostles labouring with and writing to them at Corinth was to bring them to Life and Substance to the spiritual Rock the spiritual Meat and Drink which is Christ 1 Cor. 10. 14 15 16 17. 2 Cor. 13. 5. that they might be blameless in his Day which 't is evident the outward Figure or Shadow did not bring them to but they were blameable and blamed for the Carnality Divisions and Disorders which were among them 1 Cor. 3. 1 3. Now as to the outward Supper so little being said for it by our Opposer we are not willing to enlarge or enter into any strict Controversie about that Subject but for further Explanation refer him to what our deceased Friend Robert Barclay has writ upon it in his Apology from p. 493 to p. 514. And if we were convinced that it is our Duty to receive Bread and Wine as an outward Memorial of Christ's Death we should never own this our Accuser who has shamefully reproached us or any such Enemies to be our Administrators nor hold Communion with them For Baptism he alledges Mat. 28. 20. Go teach all Nations baptizing them And here the Man breaks leaving out In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost and then brings in And lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the World Taking it for granted that this Commission must intend Water Baptism and the continuance thereof as well as Teaching or Preaching even unto the End of the World Hence saying They i. e. Christ's ministerial Officers indeed were impowered as John to baptize with Water p. 205. But is this Adversary really for John's Baptism or for baptizing as John did He 's not express nor plain in this Point Tho' he would seem an eminent Advocate for the Church of England we may greatly question his Sincerity herein If under this Pretext he means Infants Baptism or Sprinkling them he should not take up the Anabaptist's Arguments for that which they oppose as a scriptureless Thing and at the same time deem them Schismaticks Enthusiasts and number them among the various Sects set up by Rome under universal Tolleration as before p. 17 18. 2d Part. He 's very disingenuous in this as well as in many other Things He should have plainly told us what Baptism he aims at and who the Subjcts of it whether Infants or Believers before he had either upbraided or threatned us for the neglect of it However pray observe the great Stress he lays upon this outward Baptism with Water viz. That it was an Ordinance instituted as a means of Grace whereby the inward Baptism with the Holy Ghost was conveyed therefore the Form appointed of admission into the Society of the Church and thereby giving a Title to all the Privileges and Promises annexed to it p. 206. whereby Persons are daily baptized into Christ's death p. 209. And tells us of Outward Signs and Seals Pledges and Means of Grace which he judges the Enemy has deluded Men into a neglect of Now observe 1. He makes Water-Baptism whether of Infants or Believers he resolves not not only an Institution but a Means of Grace whereby the inward Baptism of the Holy Ghost is conveyed 2. Such a Form appointed of admission into the Church as giveth a Title to all the Privileges and Promises c. 3. That 't is the Baptism into Christ's Death 4. A Seal Pledge and Means of Grace In all which he does but upon his own Authority impose upon the Reader without Scripture-proof And his Impositions herein are liable to many Exceptions 1. They suppose all Persons under Grace and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost who are come under Water-Baptism without Exception of Infants or others when the contrary is evident in many wicked Persons and even in Simon Magus the Sorcerer who was baptized and yet wicked and wanting the Gift and Baptism of the Holy Ghost would have bought it for Mony Acts 8. 2. It also supposes all to be void of Grace and of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and of the Promises who are not baptized with Water consequently that many thousands are Damned because they are not so baptized Which is highly uncharitable 3. We deny that by Water-Baptism Men are baptized either into Christ's Death Body or Church or that 't is a Seal or Pledge of Grace For 't is by one Spirit that true
Believers are baptized unto Christ and into Christ's Death and into One Body there being One Faith and One Baptism which is that of the Spirit 's which is the Soul 's saving Baptism typified by that of Water See 1 Cor. 12. 13. Rom. 6. 3 4. Gal. 3. 27. Ephes. 4. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 21. In the next place we may observe this censorious uncharitable Man will not allow Christ's Commission Mat. 28 19. To intend spiritual Baptism or the Baptism of the Holy Ghost because he saith Christ only is he who could baptize with the Holy Ghost To say that Man could bestow God which the Holy Ghost is is the highest Blasphemy p. 203 204. And further to aggravate the Matter against us he saith If the Quakers Interpretation of Mat. 28. 19. do hold it will follow that the Apostles and their Successors have power to baptize with the Holy Ghost which is Blasphemy Reply He is highly mistaken in his superlative Charge of Blasphemy in this Case for if our Interpretation of the Text does hold That Christ's Apostles and Ministers had Power given them by him being present with them even in his own Work to baptize with the Spirit as well as to convert Men to God then our Interpretation isd not Blasphemy because it holds This severe Judge against us is quite out here For tho' Christ be the great and efficient Cause both of giving and baptizing with the Spirit yet his true Ministers who were indued with his divine Power were instrumental in his Work of baptizing with the Spirit yea and of ministring the Spirit and he was with them in his own Work Lo I am with you always to the end of the World saith he What for To enable them to baptize with Water No that many can do without him or the least sense of his Presence but lo Christ was with them to impower them to Go teach all Nations baptizing them into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost It is not Go teach and then baptize them with Water but Go teach all Nations baptizing them c. There was a divine and spiritual Baptism immediately attending and present with their Ministry and it was to such as were docible too and not to Infants who are not capable of Teaching and this spiritual Presence of Christ and his Baptism accompanying their Ministry is evident according to St. Peter's own Relation Acts 11. 15 16. And AS I began to speak the Holy Ghost fell on them that heard even as upon us at the beginning Then I remembred the Word of the Lord how he said John baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost What 's more plain than that here was Teaching and Baptizing with the Holy Ghost accompanying his Ministry Query But were Christ's Apostles instrumental in ministring the Spirit Yes they being Ministers of the Spirit and not of the Letter See Gal. 3. 2. Received ye the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith preached And ver 5. He therefore that ministreth to you the Spirit and worketh Miracles among you doth he it through the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith preached Their Speech and Preaching being not in the enticing Words of Man's Wisdom but in plain Evidence of the Spirit and of Power that the Faith of the Hearers might not stand in the Wisdom of Men but in the Power of God 1 Cor. 2. 4 5. For said he our Gospel was not unto you in Word only but also in Power and in the Holy Ghost and in much Assurance 1 Thes. 1. 5. But contrarywise this imposing Judge has promoted Water-Baptism above the spiritual powerful Ministry of the Gospel He 'll have the spiritual Baptism to go along with that of Water duly administred and received as he saith p. 205. But by no means will he allow the spiritual Baptism to go along with the Gospel Ministry or Teaching as commanded Mat. 28. 19. No by no means that he deems Blasphemy which bewrays his no small Ignorance both of the Scriptures and of the Power of God and true Gospel-Ministry in this case and therefore he 'll not allow Inward Baptism to supersede the Outward Though John Baptist who had a peculiar Commission for the Outward allowed it he preferred and exalted Christ's Baptism above his own saying He must increase but I must decrease John 3. 30 I indeed baptize you with Water unto Repentance or amendment of Life but he that cometh after me is mightier than I whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear he will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Mat. 3. 11. Mark 1. 8 Luke 3. 16. John 1. 26 27. That John as to this his outward Ministry of Baptism should decrease implies not an immediate or present end thereof upon the entrance of Christ's Dispensation or Baptism but that John's should gradually decrease and wear out as Christ's Ministry and Baptism do encrease and grow as the Heat of Fire or Sun dries up the Water and causes it to decrease by Degrees and not suddenly all at once For John and his Ministry being of great esteem with many both Jews and Greeks no doubt his Baptism was condescended unto and allowed when the Apostles were gathering divers of the Churches of Christ to a higher Ministry And that this of John's Baptism was an Act of Condescention and not of Commission to the Apostles Paul is very plain in this case 1 Cor. 1. 14 15 16. after he saith I thank God that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius lest any should say that I had baptized in my own Name I baptized also the Houshold of Stephanus c. He gives a more general Reason for his thanking God he baptized no more ver 17. For Christ sent me NOT to baptize but to preach the Gospel c. And doubtless Paul's Commission from Christ was as large and extensive as any of the Apostles had therefore their Commission in Mat. 28. 19 was not to baptize with Water but with the Spirit wherein their Gospel Ministry came His supposing that If the inward Baptism must supersede the Outward then must Inward Teaching p. 203. This supposes the outward Baptism of equal Authority with Teaching or Preaching the Gospel and as necessary to continue which we do not believe yet we deny not but the inward and immediate Teaching of the Holy Spirit is more excellent and permanent than the Outward as the Holy Spirit is the Original and Spring from whence the true outward Ministry arises and flows and unto which it leads and the more People come to know an Introversion and joining of their Minds to the Inward the less need they 'll have of the Outward though we bless God for both But how proves this Adversary That the visible Representation of the Lord's death by the Bread broken and the Wine poured forth and also Water-Baptism are the Body or outward part of Religion which he saith the
Therefore 't is a great and gross Lie to say of the Quakers They all pretend to such Perfection and Equality As it was also likewise answered in the said Just Inquiry into the Libeller's Abuse as followeth p. 12. It 's therefore a gross Slander implied against the Quakers that 't is their Boasting Doctrin or Principle that they or any of them are equal with God because they partake of his Spirit that raised Jesus from the Dead and of the divine Nature and Image they pretend to no such Equality or Principle neither doth G. F. but the contrary he denies it of himself or any other Creature as that any Creature should be equal with the Creator as in his Great Mystery fol. 127. and we abhor any such Boasting Sn. p. 216 217. That most of all are they inraged against G. Keith for Preaching up the necessity of a Christ without and that the Light within is not sufficient to Salvation without something else that is Christ Jesus without us suffering and dying outwardly for us Ref. 1. The first part is not true We are not offended at G. K.'s preaching Christ or his Suffering and Dying without us truly considered But 2. at his undervaluing the Light within as not sufficient to Salvation or not sufficient without something else seeing G. K. confesseth That the Light within in a true sense is God and Christ the eternal and essential Word as in his Antichrists and Sadducees p. 23. Surely Christ within and Christ without are not two Christ's Christ without is not another Christ than Christ within tho' his being without and within are in different manners By the Light within being sufficient to Salvation or to bring Salvation we mean able to save as the ingrafted Word is able to save the Soul yea even where the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a little Leaven which leavens the whole it bespeaks its Vertue and Efficacy surely then God and Christ the eternal and essential Word is all-sufficient and able to save Man from Sin Wrath and Damnation nevertheless God hath respect to Christ Jesus his Mediation Suffering and Dying for us in his so saving us but that God and Christ the eternal Word of God within who cannot be divided are absolutely sufficient and able actually to save and deliver Men from Sin and the Wrath to come and so do ought not to be questioned we being reconciled by the Death of Christ are saved by his Life The Light and Life of Christ within cannot be without Christ no more than the Light of the Sun can be without the Sun or a Stream without a Fountain the Light and Life of Christ within us hath livingly made us Partakers of the Fruit and Benefit of his Suffering Death and Resurrection without us and as much has been asserted of the Light within and sufficiently thereof by G. K. as any of us in his former Books How he is shaken and varied in this and some other Points we may refer to his Vniversal Grace and Immediate Revelation and other Books as also to the Remarks made on them and his latter Books by Tho. Ellwood John Penington and the Moderate Church-man Sn. p. 218 219. That Christ's making an outward attonement and satisfaction for Sin by an outward shedding of outward Blood they i. e. the Quakers turn all this to a meer Allegory tending only to an inward Christ that is their Light within to spiritual Blood shed inwardly in their Hearts Ref. 1. We are injuriously and wrongfully accused in this Charge We do not turn Christ's outward Suffering Sacrifice Blood or Attonement made for Sin thereby into a meer Allegory as if there had been no such thing in reality both outwardly and literally this is far remote from our Intentions thus to allegorize away all these to the Inward as if no Christ had outwardly been or suffered for Mankind 't was never our Opinion 2. Yet deny not but it has been and still is our sincere Belief and Persuasion as well as our Experience in measure that all Christ's Sufferings and Sacrifice his Cross his Blood and Water shed without had a misterious and allegorical Meaning and interpretation as well as a literal in them who are crucified with him and really washed from their Sins in his Blood and there is his spiritual Blood and Water as well as the outward for all that is spoken of the Blood of Christ in Scripture is not to be taken only in a literal sense Sn. p. 219 220. That this inward Christ they make to be the Archi-Type of which that Man Christ Jesus was but the Type Figure c. Ref. 'T is a new Notion imposed upon us that we make Christ as inward the Archi-Tipe chief or principal Type for Christ who is not divided is the substance and end of all Tipes and Figures and therefore 't is not true in it self nor of us That the Man Christ Jesus was but the Type or Figure for it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell in him which Tipes Figures and Shadows are far short of Sn. p. 220 221. That this Doctrin which he charges against the Quakers makes no more of Christ Jesus than a good Example as a Man who had a great measure of the true Christ and that the Body of that Man Christ Jesus he has now thrown off and is no more a Man Thus saith he has the Devil in the Quakers totally destroyed Christ's Humanity as in the Socinians he has taken away his Divinity Ref. Here are five notorious Falshoods contained in this Charge against the Quakers In opposition to which we say our Belief and Doctrin is That Christ Iesus was and is more than a good Example he was also a most acceptable Sacrifice and Saviour in whom we have Life and Salvation through Faith in him his Name and Power 2. He received the Spirit not by measure but in fulness and that he is the true and very Christ of God 3. That the Man Christ Jesus has not thrown off his own particular Body for 't is a most glorious Body 4. And Christ himself a most glorious heavenly Man in Soul and Body 5. The Devil is a great Enemy to all faithful Quakers and hath no place in them by the Power of Christ they have overcome that wicked one and he cannot destroy Christ's Humanity or Manhood 't is blasphemous to affirm it tho' he persecute the Seed of the Woman and bruise his Heel this Seed shall bruise his Head and hath done it and will destroy the Devil and his Works from having any Power or Dominion where Christ the promised Seed is truly received and reigns Sn. p. 222. That they make themselves equal to Christ Jesus yea to be Christ preferring of themselves before him p. 224. Ref. These gross Lies and blasphemous Calumnies are utterly denied being also refuted before We have abundance of such Stuff reiterated in the windings and turnings of this Snake in the Grass Sn. p. 239. That
to that which is of God and from him and mentions not the Quakers in the place Sn. p. 52. Great Mystery p. 248. again quoted viz. All THAT have the Son and the Holy Ghost have THAT which is equal in Power and Glory with the Father and this all the Quakers say they have Re. That the Son and Holy Ghost are equal in Power with the Father and that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the Dead dwells in the Saints we see not this to be such a monstrous Heresie Are not the Son and Holy Ghost of the same Substance with the Father And have not the Assembly at Westminster confessed as much as G. F. says Yet the Quakers do not say they have the Holy Ghost in fulness but in measure Sn. p. 53 54 55. Sect. 7. Of the Quakers making their Soul of the same Person and Substance with God quoting Great Myst. p. 247. p. 90 91. 273. Of Christ's dwelling in the Saints Of that which came out from the Creator Of the Soul that came out of him c. Re. 1. The Case herein is both mis-understood and mis-represented against the Quakers They do not so make their Souls of the same Person and Substance with God I know no such Expressions used by the Quakers 2. There 's a mis-understanding also of G. F. in the Case about his questioning Is not that a part of God which came out from God and of his Being as God breathed into Man the Breath of Life and he i. e. Man became a living Soul to which Words G. F. expresly refers We always understood him to intend That this Breath of Life which made Man a living Soul was that divine Breath or Spirit of Life which came out from God and of his own Being for otherwise how should Man thereby become a living Soul Which clearly distinguisheth the Creature Man to be that living Soul that was so made by that Spirit Breath and Life which proceeded from his Creator and which some term the Soul of the Soul So that the Soul of Man abstractly considered was as truly created as Man himself tho' that divine Inspiration or Breath of Life whereby the Soul had its Being Life and Immortality be Increated and of God himself for we ever distinguished between the Soul of Man and that which saves it Note That his 2d 4th 8th 9th Sections are not particularly pointed at being in Substance comprehensively and sufficiently answered in divers Answers to the rest and in our Just Enquiry the same things being often repeated in his Book as about Carnal Weapons Damning all the World the Soul and Immediate Revelation Sn. p. 69. Sect. 10. As they place Infallibility in every single Quaker so they confine it not to Matters of Faith but extend it to all Persons and Things to know all Men's Hearts and all Things in the World by their inward Light without being told by any Re. Here 's a great Mistake in these Accusations 1. Such a personal Infallibility as to know all Persons States and Things in the World we pretend not to for that were for Man to pretend Omnisciency which is only proper to Almighty God The Man 's egregiously out in confounding Infallibility with Omnisciency The Infallibility or Certainty own'd by us originally is in the Spirit and Light of Truth given by Christ Jesus and not consisting in Persons their humane or natural Parts yet we must confess to the Glory of God that the Spirit of Truth doth infallibly teach and lead them into all Truth who truly obey it and gives them certain knowledge in Matters of Faith and Salvation Sn. p. 81. They turn and wind this Infallibility of theirs at such a rate that no Man can I am sure I cannot know what they mean by it Re. Where 's then the Blasphemy Here 's manifest Contradiction to what he hath said before about extending the Quaker's Infallibility to all Persons and Things and to know all Mens Hearts and all things in the World c. which is to pretend to Omnisciency which is only proper to God who only is Omniscient Silence had better become this occult Adversary's Ignorance than to reproach or vilifie us about what he knows not Sn p. 83 84. The Strength which God has given to our Bodies is as sufficient to climb up to the Skies as the Wisdom or Light which he has given to our Souls was sufficient of it self to have found out the redemption of lost Man by the Incarnation and Satisfaction of Christ to God's Justice for our Sins or if found out to have paid that Price and to have accomplished that whole wonderful Oeconomy of our Salvation by our own Abilities and then he goes on thus confusedly so very insufficient is the Light within us even tho' followed to the utmost by its own Strength to carry us to Heaven Re. This is to deny any divine Wisdom Light Word or Power to be given to our Souls as if they could live and immortally subsist without the divine Logos or Word in them which in Scripture is called The Ingrafted Word which is able to save the Soul and consequently to carry us to Heaven 't is therefore great Darkness to oppose the sufficiency of this Light this Word or Christ within or to oppose his Incarnation Sufferings Satisfaction or our Redemption obtained by him as our Mediator to this his own inward Light Power and Appearance for as truly as Christ Jesus as our blessed Mediator has obtained eternal Redemption and Salvation for us so truly doth Christ Jesus by his Light Life and Power make us Partakers of that Redemption and Salvation and to know the Oeconomy Law or Rule of his House and Family as we obey him therein that we being reconciled by his Death might be saved by his Life The divine Logos the Light or Spirit of Christ is as able now to discover what Christ hath done and suffered for our Redemption as it was to shew the Prophets his Sufferings and the Glory that should follow Sn. p. 84. And therefore the Quakers preaching up the sufficiency of the Light within as all of them but the Separatists do is not only highly derogatory to the satisfaction paid by Christ for our Sins but it is blasphemous in ascribing to Our Selves a Power sufficient to work out our own Salvation Re. There are two gross Mistakes in these Passages 1. The sufficiency we ascribe to Christ his Light and Life within is not any derogation to his Satisfaction Attonement or Ransom given and paid by him without us for Sins and Sinners no more than Christ's own exhorting Men To believe in the Light that they might become Children of the Light or the Apostle's to a receiving the ingrafted Word which was able to save the Souls could be derogatory to his blessed intention and end in his Suffering and Sacrifice for Mankind but the contrary Christ by his Light and Life within leads to know and experience the
his own Words against his Adversary viz. Who can have the Confidence to call the Scripture his Rule and yet contradict it so egregiously as when the Apostle tells us It is not the same Body that is sown that shall be to assert that it is the same Body and that who says the contrary denies the Resurrection and eternal Recompence which is a very confident Perversion and Opposition to the Apostle's Doctrin In short we do acknowledge a Resurrection in order to eternal Recompence and that every Seed shall have its own Body and rest contented with what Body it shall please God to give us who giveth a Body as it pleaseth him 1 Cor. 15. But as we are not such Fools as curiously to enquire what so must we for ever deny the gross Conceits of T. H. and his Adherents c. And in conclusion of the same Head Reason against Railing p. 124. he saith For our parts a Resurrection we believe and of Bodies too unto Eternal Life What they shall not be I have briefly said and proved what they shall be we leave with God who will give every one a Body as it pleaseth him and Thou Fool belongs to the unnecessary Medler Thus 't is evident W. P. did not deny the Resurrection it self nor count it Nonsense c. but the gross Conceits of some Persons about it Consequently this Accuser has charged the Quakers as falsly in this Point as in the rest And we know not Those others among us he tells of that suppose the Soul it self is the spiritual Body mentioned 1 Cor. 15. 44. and consequently that there is no other Resurrection than at each particular Persons death p. 184. We know none in our Society hold or suppose these things but the contrary that the Soul of every Person shall be invested with its own proper spiritual Body in the general Resurrection and last Day And besides the true Believers being quicken'd and raised out of the Fall in Adam unto Life Righteousness and Victory in and by Jesus Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life Three things are also observable in that 1 Cor. 15. The Apostle argues 1. for the Resurrection of the Dead from the Resurrection of Christ against some that said There is no Resurrection of the Dead 2. He argues against some and reprehends them as Fools that questioned How the Dead are raised and with what Bodies do they come forth From the Wheat and other Grain that 's sown and the difference between the Celestial and Terrestrial Bodies and the Natural Body and the Spiritual 3. For those Saints that shall remain alive at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to raise the Dead that they shall be changed in a moment at the sounding of the last Trumpet of God It 's evident that the Apostle Paul fully answers both those that said there is No Resurrection of the Dead and also those Fools that question With what Body do they come forth And asserts the sudden change of those who shall remain alive until the coming of the Lord from Heaven So that the Resurrection of the Dead and final change of the Living so as the Corruptible must put on Incorruption and the Mortal shall put on Immortality As this Doctrin was really believed by the Primitive Christians so it is by us who believe that God raised up Jesus from the Dead and therefore the Dead both the Just and Unjust shall be raised by Jesus Christ according to Scripture whatever Prejudice may suggest to the contrary But our Adversary will needs have it That Mr. Penn does understand that long and elegant Description of the Resurrection of our Bodies from the 35th Verse of the 15th Chap. of the first Epist. to the Corinthians Only of the spiritual state of the Soul in this Life and for it quotes The Invalidity of John Faldoe's Vindication 1673. p. 373 p. 369. He wrongs W. P. in this i. e. That he understands that long and elegant Description of the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 35. to the end Only of the spiritual state of the Soul in this Life I say this is a Perversion and Abuse of W. P.'s Discourse in the Case for on verse 44. he utterly denies that this Text is concerned in the Resurrection of Man's carnal Body shewing according to Beza both from the Latin and Original Greek that a natural Body is sown a spiritual Body is raised that there 's not a Word in either for the Relative It Inval. p. 369. And in p. 373. W. P. supposing the Apostle treated of a natural Change and not only of the spiritual state of the Soul in this Life This Supposition is not to understand the Apostle Paul to treat only of the spiritual state of the Soul in this Life in that 1 Cor. 15. from v. 35. For in the place quoted it is by the Accused confessed That tho' we sow not the Body which shall be God giveth a Body as it pleaseth him from 1 Cor. 15. 37 38. 'T is observable That W. P. in his Answer to T. Hicks and John Faldoe quoted is not so unnatural as not to allow the sanctified Soul a suitable Clothing or Mansion when the earthly Tabernacle is dissolved which is eternal in the Heavens according to 2 Cor. 5. 1. wherein it is undoubtedly happy being in perfect Peace and Rest with God in Christ Jesus but he also allows it a spiritual celestial glorious Body in the Resurrection far excelling the Terrestrial And we doubt not but we shall be the same and as many distinct Souls Men or Persons in the Resurrection as we are now though far better Clothed with our spiritual glorious Bodies we hope The Premises consider'd 't is evident our Accuser has as actually wronged us in this Point even in Matter of Fact by Perversion as in his saying The Quakers have spiritualiz'd away all the Body and the Being of Christ into their Light within p. 195. which is all a notorious Untruth and answered before To his Stories 1. Of a Quaker Preacher to whom he urging for a proof of the Resurrection Mat. 27. 52 53. That many Bodies of Saints arose and came out of the Graves after Christ's Resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many That he made this Answer That was not meant of the literal or earthly Jerusalem that any dead Bodies arose there but of the spiritual Jerusalem which John saw coming down from Heaven 2. And that others told him They heard the same Exposition in a Quaker Sermon at one of their Meetings p. 196. Answ. We know not any Preacher among us that gave such Meaning or Interpretation to the said Text neither do we own it And we have reason to question the truth of these Stories 3. He says He can tell of a Preacher among the Quakers that said He had already obtain'd the Resurrection by Christ having risen in his Heart and that he believed no other Resurrection nor expected any p. 198.
Devil has stolen from us so that the Soul soon disappeared and left a noisome Carcass of Religion p. 209 210. What a strange confused Whimsie is this How has the Devil stolen from them the Body of Religion and left a noisome Carcass behind 'T is more likely that he has stolen away the Soul of Religion from them or rather their Minds from it and left them only a Carcass behind◠who are so much doting about and even idolizing the Shadow which is far short of the Body of true Religion and neglecting the Life Soul and Substance thereof so that their outward Observations are dead empty and fruitless as those Observers are who are void of Christian Humility Love or Charity Those repeated known Falshoods 1. That Christ's outward dying and shedding of his Blood many of the Quakers have turn'd to mean nothing but his spiritual Suffering within us c. 2. To spiritualize AWAY the literal Humanity and Sufferings of Christ p. 208 209. These Falshoods being fully answer'd and denied by us already we need but persist in our Negation thereof To conclude this Head of Baptism with an Argument or two from the Terms of the Commission Mat. 28. Go teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Arg. 1. If the Commission intended baptizing them with Water then the Apostles must have followed and used the Terms of the Commission in the Execution thereof to manifest their Authority for it But they did not follow nor use the Terms of the Commission in baptizing with Water therefore that Baptism was not intended in the Commission The first part of the Argument is undeniable from the Sanction and Authority of the Commission it self which is expresly Go teach all Nations baptizing them in or into the Name of the Father and of the Son and Holy Ghost The second part of the Argument is prov'd by the following Arg. 2 Christ's Apostles and Ministers did Teach and Preach in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost but they did not Baptize with Water in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Therefore baptizing with Water was not intended in that Commission The second Proposition is proved by their baptizing only in the Name of the Lord or in the Name of the Lord Jesus when they baptized with Water as John did We do not find in all the Acts or other Scripture that the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost were used by any of the Apostles of Christ in baptizing with Water Let him peruse W. DELL's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or The Doctrin of Baptisms and T. Lawson's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or A Treatise concerning Baptisms Whereunto is added A Discourse concerning the Supper Bread and Wine called the Communion To his 15th Sect. Concerning the Satisfaction of Christ. Herein he saith the Quakers are direct Socinians for they positively deny the Satisfaction Here he stumbles at the Threshold again this is a positive Untruth in Fact They are neither Socinians nor do they deny the Satisfaction of Christ it self for God was ever well pleased and so satisfied in his dear innocent Son but never with Sinners continuing in their Sins That therefore which we deny is the Vnscriptural Sin-pleasing and Sinner-soothing Notions of our former Adversaries about it as that of Christ suffering under Vindictive Justice from the Father and making such a rigid and strict Satisfaction and Payment in our Stead thereby to acquit and justifie the guilty Offender though persisting in Sin all his Days This Notion of Satisfaction as severely and rigidly stated as vindictive upon the dear Son of God and thus indulging to Sinners both the Quakers and even a Bishop of the Church of England have opposed 'T is also such a Notion of a rigid Satisfaction and strict Payment held as a Notion of Law in the strictest and severest Sense that W. P. opposeth God's Compassion unto in pardoning Iniquity passing by Transgression and Sin and forgiving our Trespasses which we ever own to be for Christ's sake but upon true Faith and Repentance from these Scriptures Mica 7. 18. Mat. 6. 12 14. ch 18 Therefore this Adversary mistakes and misrepresents W. P. in this Point as blaspheming and arguing against the Satisfaction of Christ p. 212 213. when he argues against that kind of Satisfaction held as a rigid Notion of Law that admits not of Forgiveness of Sins past which we consess Christ's Sufferings and Sacrifice has made way for upon true Repentance on the Offenders part which Christ's great Sufferings under the Burthen of the World's Iniquities do call for and require universally of them And as to the Praise of the great Love and Grace of God to Mankind we must confess that it was by the same Grace Christ tasted Death for every Man and was really an Offering and a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling Savour to God Ephes. 5. 2. and our only Mediator and in that Sense sincerely own what was really his Satisfaction to the Father to stay the Execution of his Wrath and obtain our Pardon giving us Repentance by his Light and Grace in our Hearts yet such a kind of rigid Satisfaction and strict Payment to vindictive or revenging Justice as if God poured out his just Indignation or Wrath merited by Sinners upon his innocent Son as some of our Adversaries have affirmed no less This we confess we cannot reconcile either to God's divine Justice or Mercy or to Christ's Mediation and Intercession for Transgressors And little short of this is our present Adversary's Notion That Justice cannot remit the least Farthing else it were not Justice speaking of divine Justice even of God as being not only just but Justice it self in the Abstract the highest and most adequate Notion of Justice p. 214. All which duly considered borders upon the most rigid and extream Notion of Satisfaction as if divine Justice i. e. God himself in his Sense could not remit the least Farthing but Christ must strictly pay every Farthing of the Debt of Offenders whereas there is a divine Justice or Righteousness that 's truly Evangelical which is declared in the Forgiveness of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God Rom. 3. 25. and ver 26. to shew at this time his Righteousness that he might be Just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus It was for this end that God set forth his Son Jesus Christ to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his Rightoousness for the remission of Sins past c. Wherefore the Quakers do not make one of God's Attributes fight with or conquer the other nor one to subdue and beat down the other or his Justice to quit the Field to his Mercy as is ignorantly and unjustly suggested to make us guilty of great Nonsense and Blasphemy p. 214 215 216. For all God's Attributes in himself are in Concord Union and Harmony and in his Creatures concur and agree in
therefore Three Persons Another having given Aquinas his definition of a Person as being an individual Substance of a rational Nature which is neither the part of another nor upheld by another But now if they be not Three Beings nor Three Substences how well have these Men defended a principal Article of their Faith Seeing the Father the Word and Holy Ghost are owned by Christians to be One Being One Substance therefore not Three Beings nor Three Substances My speaking of Christ as the only begotten of the Father and for his Divinity as he was the Brightness of the Father's Glory and express Image of his divine Substance and thereupon questioning T. Danson where doth the Scripture say That his Soul was created This Question is no Determination that it was or was not Christ as God his Soul was increated As Man his Soul or Spirit was not the Deity but formed and assumed by the Word The Word or Son of God who made the Worlds was not a Creature because he made all Creatures Though he took upon him a most pure and perfect Soul and Body he took upon him the Seed of Abraham that he might in both Soul and Body suffer for Mankind and sympathize with us in bearing our Sorrows and carrying our Griefs and that his Soul might be in Travel for us and made an Offering for Sin and poured out unto Death Isa. 53. By my said Question I chiefly eyed his Divinity considering him as he proceeded and came out from God and as he was glorified with the Father before the World began Upon the whole my Adversary's Charge of Heresie upon me and the Quakers against the Incarnation of Christ p. 2. as also his Author G. Keith's publick Aspersions That G. W. disowns Christ to be God and denied him to be Man Narr p. 16. These are to tell the World That we own no Christ at all Wherein as they have both grosly wrong'd my Intention Principle and publick Testimony I am persuaded G. K. has wronged his own Conscience and that he must needs know the contrary of me in this and some other things for which he is accountable to the just God For by questioning the Words created or human Soul I did not thereby intend to deny Christ to be truly Man as is unduly insinuated against me p. 2. but rather to own That tho' Christ was truly Man in Soul and Body yet that his Soul was more divine than any other Mans or Mens and therefore he may be said to be a most divine Man and more of the divine and increated Life in his Soul than in any other Man's whatsoever and that therefore the word human as it relates to the Ground or Earth from which the Body of Man was taken I might suppose was too low or mean a Character or Epithite to give to the Soul of Christ or to his spiritual glorious Body either and I hope I deserve not blame in this while I was careful not to lessen the Glory or Dignity of the Son of God as he is the Lord from Heaven by not allowing him to be from beneath or Earthly either in Soul or Body in his glorified State and I am perswaded that some so much insisting upon the word Human Soul and Body of Christ gives the Socinians more advantage than my pleading for his Divinity and Heavenly glory both as God and Man To my Question to Robert Gordon I think there 's no real Cause for Offence to be taken at it if the Occasions ministred by him were Impartially taken notice of which they are not by this partial Adversary As R. G.'s great Ignorance both of the Light and Saving-work of Christ in Man excluding Christ's work of Salvation and Justification c. as all done and finished without Man even when no good is wrought in Man and pleading for Imperfection and Sin in Man in so much that Geo. Keith charged the said Gordon with 18 corrupt Doctrins and above 20 Lyes and false Accusations in the conclusion of my Book Entituled The Nature of Christianity in the true Light asserted Printed Anno 1671. And yet this officious Adversary takes his part excusing him in defence of G. Keith against us as he has done also in his Snake in the Grass which is such a piece of confused Mixture and Medley as I have seldom ever met withal My Question to R. Gordon as Cited Dost thou look for Christ as the Son of Mary to appear outwardly in a bodily Existence to save thee If thou dost thou mayest look until thy Eyes drop out before thou wilt see such an appearance of him And what proof is made of this against me But that I do not acknowledge that Christ has now the Body of a Man or will come in that Body to Judge the World Answ. Neither do I deny it If I do not acknowledge it in this Passage I do in many others namely that Christ as the Heavenly Man has his own proper glorious Body wherein he will come to Judge the World at the last day And therefore do not hold that Christ has no bodily Existence or being without us as G. K. accuseth me Narr p. 16. He wrongs me in this as in divers other things But upon R. Gordon 's pretending a perfect Justification and Redemption of Sinners without them when no good is wrought in them and yet granting that Christ's appearing the second time is without Sin to Salvation But then his deferring this till the Resurrection of the Body this I confess was so offensive to me that I put the said Question the reason whereof appears more at large in my said Answer Nature of Christianity p. 29. It being always my Judgment with many others that Salvation from Sin should be expected in this Life and Christ's second appearance for that end also mentioned Heb. 9. 28. That this ought not to be put off till the last day but expected even in this Life as in the Apostles days There were those then that looked for him to whom his appearance the second time without Sin unto Salvation was promised and the true Believers were not disappointed of their expectations in that weighty matter As many have been who have expected to see Christ's outward coming in Person with their carnal Eyes to save them Besides 't is true in Fact that those carnal Eyes of many fail them drop out or rot before they can see Christ's outward appearance or coming in the last day to Judgment And G. Keith himself as well as I have charged false and corrupt Doctrin upon Robert Gordon particularly in his asserting That Redemption Justification and Reconciliation is finished and compleated by what Christ did and suffered outwardly and not in our Persons and without the help of any thing to be wrought in us Artic. 6 8 12 of his Charge against Gordon Nature of Christianity p. 70 71 72. And why now I should be accused by G. Keith or his Advocate for the words before to
Man's Redemption both outwardly and inwardly outwardly by the Ransom given by Christ's Sufferings and Sacrifice and inwardly by the operation of his Life Power and Spirit which Mystically is that precious Blood that is opposed to all corruptible things which redeems from the vain Conversation from all Iniquity and effectually washeth and clcanseth us from our Sins purgeth and sprinkles our Consciences c. And farther to Answer to Types and Shadows under the Law of shedding Blood and sprinkling c. That God according to his Mercy saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Titus 3. 5 6. And I 'le sprinkle clean water upon them and wash them from all their filthiness saith the Lord. And the Blood of sprinkling which the spiritual believers were come unto has the same effect And if the name of Water be attributed to the Spirit as it is Jo. 7. 38 39. Light and Life The name of Blood may also which is not to Allegorize away or invalidate the outward Blood or Sacrifice of Christ or any part thereof yet the Mystery thereof we may not deny but confess And according to the answers I have given for the Blood of Christ and the Mystery thereof our deceased Friend and Brother Robert Bercley expresly agrees whose Testimony therefore I am the more willing to cite because G. Keith has approved of his Works p. 60. R. B's Testimony in his Works p. 10. follows in these words viz. This Blood speaking of the Blood of Christ that is healing c. is known and felt within to wash and purge the Conscience for Christ as he is within is not without his Blood which is Spiritual even the pure Blood of the Vine and is that Wine of the Kingdom which is inwardly felt to wash and to refresh which he gives to them who know not distinctly the outward shedding of his Blood as it was many hundred years ago and which many are ignorant of who have heard much of the outward shedding of his Blood but know not the Blood as shed and poured forth in them to sprinkle their Consciences from dead Works for it is a Mystery sealed up from all who stand in opposition to his Light within But there mark thy own Words saith he to his Opponent The Plaster must be applyed er'e the Sore be healed Must not then saving Grace be applyed er'e the Soul be Converted or Healed And R. B. treats much more largely concerning the Flesh and Blood of Christ to the same purpose as before cited for the Blood of Christ as 't is Spiritual and Mysterious c. p. 494. 495 496 497 498. upon his thirteenth Proposition of his Apology and in page 494. He has recourse to Agustin viz. § II. The Body then of Christ which Believers partake of is Spiritual and not Carnal and his Blood which they Drink of is Pure and Heavenly and not Humane or Elementary as Augustin also affirms Ps. 98. Except a Man Eat my Flesh he hath not in him Life Eternal And he saith The Words which I speak unto you are Spirit and Life understand spiritually what I have spoken Ye shall not Eat of this Body which ye see and Drink this Blood which they shall spill that Crucifie me I am the living Bread which have dscended from Heaven He called himself the Bread who descended from Heaven exhorting that we should believe in him c. Unto which I further add for Illustration That the pure Blood of Grapes promised to Judah and Israel Gen. 49. 11. Deut 32. 14. was Typical of this spiritual Blood and Fruit of the Heavenly Vine Christ Jesus which truly relieves and comforts the afflicted and sorrowful Soul that comes unto him And also the Milk and Honey the Butter Oyl and Wheat and other Temporal Blessings which were in the promised Land were all Types of Christ and the spiritual Blessings received in him in his Kingdom and Heavenly Canaan And the Oyl and Wine which the Compassionate Samaritan poured into the Wounds of the Man that was wounded by Thieves and left half Dead Luke 10. 34 were also Typical of the healing Vertue Life and spiritual Blood of Christ Jesus which he graciously poureth into many wounded Souls As concerning the word Personality and Personal Existence as applyed to God and Christ I have sometimes questioned as also the word Humane as ascribed to the glorified Body of Christ which is spiritual and also to his Soul or Spirit for these reasons 1. Because imposed on us by some Adversaries without Scripture proof of those terms and not to Question Christ's glorious Manhood for in that sense I admit of and sometime may use the word Humanity either for Man or for the Good Nature and disposition of Man as of the word Trinity for Three being not willing to maintain contest about Words but to mind the thing intended thereby 2. Because false Arguments have been drawn thence against Christ and his Light in Man 3. Because of the carnal Imaginations of too many thereof who under pretence of expecting Christ to come again in the Flesh in the same manner as he was on Earth and to be seen with their carnal Eyes neglect the introversion of their Minds to Christ's inward appearance in Spirit 4. Because whilst Men feed upon such Notions and Imaginations of Christ excluding him out of their Hearts they exclude the living and Heart-purifying Faith of Christ so that their Faith is but Dead and Fruitless whilst such seem to adore Christ as only an outward Christ or as wholly without them and not in them instead of opening the Door of their Hearts unto him to let him in they harbour and indulge their own Corruptions Pride Scorn Envy and Covetousness c. in their Hearts out of which proceed all these bitter Reproches Revilings and Calumnies which we meet with this Day as heretofore In all my former questioning their unscriptural terms who profess the Scriptures to be their only Rule ascribed to God and Christ I never designed to deny his being our Mediator as Man nor to oppose his coming in Power and great Glory in his gloryfied spiritual Body to Judge the Quick and the Dead in the last Day tho I have sometimes shunned controversy on that Point and about the Resurrection and last Day of Judgment Urging not to put the day of the Lord afar off nor to neglect the present day of their Visitation and Judgment of Christ by his Spirit and Light within them The Question how are the Dead raised and with what Body come they forth I have often waved as unnecessary as well as unwarrantable being reprehended in some 1 Cor. 15. 35 26. I being willing to acquiesce in the will of God in that matter to give a Body as it pleaseth him and to every Seed it s own Body as proper thereunto ver 38. One thing I would be better understood in Not having
fully explained a Passage in that Book Christ Ascended Pref. and p. 67. Where 't is implied that we do not affirm Christ is in every Man or that every Man hath the Son but a measure of his Light Grace or Heavenly Gift in all Whereby is meant Christ in his fulness is not in any Man nor revealed in every Man nor is every Man in Christ. Neither is Christ in every Man as he is in them in whom the Body is Dead because of Sin Rom. 8. 10. But as a Light as an Immortal Seed as the Word he is in some degree in every Man but every Man is not in Christ as the new Creature is and all true Believers who walk in his Light are in him and he in them And for our endeavours to draw Peoples Minds off from their carnal expectations of Christ's outward coming again in the Flesh or from resting upon a fleshly knowledge of him as come in the Flesh without them only that their Minds may be turned to his Light and Grace within them to know his Power and Work in them This cannot be truly deemed any Antichristian Doctrin or Ministry and we are sure G. K. did not so deem it heretofore but the contrary see his Help in time of need p. 22. This is the Antichrist who denies Christ the Son come thus in the Revelation of himself in the Heart for that comeing of Christ in his Bodily appearance at Jerusalem Antichrist will not does not deny it being he knows it will never harm his Kingdom so to confess him come provided Christ's Kingdom be not set up in the Heart So that Antichrist's work now-a-days is to oppose Christ's spiritual Coming and Kingdom and yet pretend to own his coming in the Flesh Yet this greater subtility of Antichrist's work now than formerly will not cover his evil designs but the true Seed Christ will prevail and his Power reign over that Spirit of Antichrist and Son of Perdition Glory to God and to the Lamb that sitteth upon the Throne Some of the Author to the Snake in the Grass his notorious Lyes and Perversions gleaned out of his said Book Satan Disrob'd THat they i.e. Quakers have thrown off the Baptism of his i.e. Christ's Death having renounced the benefit of his Death it self Note Which are both false Christ's Baptism into his Death and the benefit thereof are very precious to us 2. p. 24. That G. W. makes the Righteousness of God to be of the same kind and nature with ours which is Blasphemy Note This is not true Christ who is made of God unto us Righteous hath brought us to deny our own Righteousness 3. p. 28 29. That heavenly Body which they i.e. Quakers talk of most of them understand nothing by it but the Soul it self or an heavenly frame or disposition of the Soul which they think they have attained already Note These are not true the heavenly Resurrection Body is not the Soul it self but a Body which God giveth as it pleaseth him 4. p. 29. Innumerable instances might be given of lying Prophesies the rankest Treasons and Blasphemies pronounced in the name of the Lord. And this against the Quakers these are outragious Aspersions and Slanders 5. p. 30. That the coming i.e. of Christ to the future judgment this he i.e. G. W. utterly denies I take this to be an utter Falshood I am not conscious of such denyal by my questioning such a manner of coming again in the Flesh as they carnally expected to see with their carnal Eyes who I answered about this point 6. p. 30. That they mean that there is no visible coming of Christ to be now looked for outwardly What they mean by a glorâ—fied heavenly Body not any thing either visible or intelligible This is not true The coming of Christ to Judgment in the great and last Day will be both seen and understood and so will the glorified Bodies of his Saints I really believe Pray observe what a storm of furious Rayleries and Falshoods this Author to the Snake c. vents against us and other Dissenters as followeth viz. 7. p. 33. The Year 1650. when our new Light arose in our Hemisphere when the Church being pull'd down the vilest and most monstrous and numerous Spawn of Multifarious Sects that ever the bottomless Pit spew'd forth at once were with a thousand other Devils let loose among us a just punishment for our Schism and Rebellion And we are yet left to War with the Tayl of this Hydra which is gathering new life and if it should for our Sins prevail our last State would be worse than the first Who can refrain from indignation to see such a conceited senseless most ignorant and blasphemous Crew destitute of common modesty or shame wipe their mouths and gravely set up themselves above all the glorious Light of the Church Confessors and Martyrs ever since the Apostles whom they damn as Apostates Which is a gross Lye I forbear Answer to these Passages because of the grosness outrage ralery and notorious Falshood thereof 8. p. 34. Denial of these four great Essentials so call'd 1. Faith in Christ as he outwardly suffered at Jerusalem to our Salvation 2. Justification by his Blood outwardly shed 3. The Resurrection of the Dead 4. The future Judgment unjustly charged and perversions alledged for proof 'T is mis-construction and mis-application of Christ's Sufferings and Blood without the Spirit and Operation thereof within that we deny and not the real living Faith in Christ concerning any of these Points which his Spirit reveals according to holy Scripture 9. p. 35. He saith And it is an horrible scandal that such should be suffered under the name Protestant As 't is the People called Quakers he chiefly smites at this appears to us a bold reflection upon the Government for so esteeming and recognizing the said People by Law as being Protestants Whereas G. F. Question'd about the Soul partly in the Terms of his Adversary i.e. Is not that a part of God and of his Being which came out from God viz. the Breath of Life God breathed into Man the breath of Life and he became a living Soul gr myst This I have more fully spoken to before and I see no great cause the Man has to quarrel with the Passage if rightly quoted only the words part of God may seem somewhat uncouth but they were first an Aposer's words and admitted of as from him The breath of Life which God breathed into Man whereby Man became a living Soul was intended by G. F. Seeing he who now quarrels with us confesseth Man's Soul was breathed from God and made a glorious Image of him and partook of many excellencies and endowments which were communicated by God unto it all this the usual opinion doth ascribe to the Soul p. 40. of Satan Disrob'd That Man's Soul was Breathed from God c. I think this Confession and that we are his Off-spring Act. 17. 28. is much of the