Scripture when Moses had set before the Jews divers of Mount Sinai's Statutes he intermingles this Caution Lev. 18. 5. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments which if a man do he shall live in them I am the Lord. I suppose few think Life eternal is meant here and I suppose not Life temporal only for it was not present death to break any of these Statutes only some of them therefore a spiritual Life must be also included The same is quoted and to the same purpose Nehem. 9. 29. so also Ezek. 20. 11. And no less does the Apostle opposing the Life of Faith now to that Life they had from Mount Sinai's Covenant insinuate that then it was He that doth these things shall live in them but now the just shall live by faith Gal. 3. 11 12. Rom. 10. 5 c. 3 dly It plainly follows that so long as they obeyed and sacrificed so long they were quiet in their Consciences 4 thly I do not deny but they had Faith upon God in the Promise but in most of them it was weak dark and uncertain so as little Peace of Conscience could accrue only from thence 5 thly This is verified in the Experiences of many Christians especially them that walk legally who have too much a tang of that Covenant still in their spirits If the Question was asked them Whether they have their Peace of Conscience always from Faith in exercise on the Person and Righteousness of Christ or from their Vows Resolutions and Obedience with other marks they set up to themselves which are meerly legal I am certain if they speak the truth they must answer the latter for this I have experienced my self many years 6 thly Suppose it at the worst where is the dangerous Error of it now a days since we are not under that but another Dispensation And this Assertion only comes in to illustrate and magnify the Glory of this New Testament Dispensation Then I added in Discourse that Isaiah did not understand his own Prophesies as well as the Apostle Paul which I cannot but judge to be very true tho' my words were then wrested and trumpeted abroad according to the usual manner Let this also suffice as an Answer to the 11 th Charge in their order 17. Sinners must come to Christ and be united to him in all their sin and filth That the Gospel invites Sinners as Sinners to come to Christ and not as Saints nor as little and reformed Sinners is evident from the whole current of the Gospel's invitation Consider Isa 55. 1. 43. 22. to 26. Isa 65. 1. compared with Rom. 10. 20. Rev. 22. 17. All sorts are invited to come heavy-laden Sinners Mat. 11. 28. The like invitation Luke 14. the maimed the halt and the blind were to be brought in ver 21. and the high-way Sinners compelled to come in ver 23. I would fain know where and when People must leave their Sins before they come to Christ 'T is true instantly upon their closing with Christ they are no longer under the dominion of sin for they are under grace Rom. 6. 14. Therefore all the Scriptures quoted for the Confutation of this are not to the purpose not one of them proving that Sin can be mortified in a state of Nature before a Soul comes to Christ But this Objection shews its Teeth and discovers who the Objectors are and what their design is viz. To maintain a power in Man's will to believe repent and turn himself antecedent to Christ's coming to the Soul by his Spirit 18. 'T is great comfort to us when we were weak in the Faith that Christ is strongly believing in Heaven for us Answ The Writer that came at the latter end took this false also For these Assertions were then laid down 1. That Christ believed and exercised other Graces of the Spirit whilst on Earth as appears from the Word of the Lord proved by Dr. Goodwyn in his Triumph of Faith 2. That thus his fulfilling of all was for the Elect as their Mediator and that the holy Graces of the Spirit he exercised as Man came within the compass of imputed Righteousness This is undeniably proved in the aforementioned place 3. That his meritorious Righteousness in all its parts tho' compleated on Earth is now in Heaven where the person of Christ is who presents it to the Father on Believers behalf and he presents Believers in it And how Prejudice hath wrested this is evident from the Pamphlet But I add No doubt tho' the Lord Jesus has all power committed to him for bringing his Sons and Daughters to Glory yet he trusts his Father for bringing them also which redounds to our benefit This Assertion is grounded on his Intercession to his Father John 17. 11. And now I am no more in the world but these are in the world and I come to thee Holy Father keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me c. 19. God the Father and God the Son are at strife who shall love Man best Answ I remember well it was thus exprest There seemed to be an holy Contention between God the Father and the Son who should love the Elect best grounded upon those words John 10. 17 with other Scriptures compared They were Dr. Goodwyn's own words or very like them And I know not why we may not use holy strains of Rhetorick to set forth that unfathomable and ineffable Love of the Father and the Son in the Election and Redemption of Sinners without being an offence to any Ears but those that are stuft with Prejudice As for that Expression said to be used as the language of Christ to the Father I will throw up my work of Redemption if you will not give me these I remember nothing of it nor believe any thing of it to be true 20. Persons may sincerely desire Christ to be their Prophet Priest and King and yet be Hypocrites still Answ This is a notorious Falshood whoever it is that affirms it No Man of Reason not blinded by Malice can think me so void of common Sense as to express my self thus WE the Members of the Church of Christ at Wellingborough having formerly attended Mr. David ' s Preaching do upon the best Recollection of what we heard testify and declare He has been much wronged and that his Preaching amongst us has been to advance Grace and Holiness and the Doctrine that is according to Godliness Robert Berson Thomas Barker William Hensman Maximilian Grindon John Fox William Smith Thomas Tutel Samuel Tecar William Hall William Marshall Francis Mee Samuel Conquest Thomas Falknor Thomas Wells William Martin The following false Stories came from Cambridge which I have already answer'd to the London Ministers I shall prove how I am abused therein by divers substantial persons And I have here this advantage that the mistaken Objectors were speedy in these Charges whilst matters were fresh in the memories of the Hearers so that they then
like the Merchant's Ship fetcheth its Goods from far even from Jesus at the Right-Hand of the Father We are apter to tabernacle within than to go out of Self for a Supply continually which is swimming against Wind and Tide going contrary to Sence and Humane Wisdom it is that that Flesh and Blood knoweth not Lastly Since Marks and Signs shine only in the Light of Faith and Faith shineth not but when it looketh directly to its Object the Grace that is in Christ Jesus then so to Examine our Faith when we cease to Act Faith is as if One should put out a Candle to see whether it burneth or not or to shut close the Doors and Windows to see whether the Room be light This I have preached at Willingham or to this effect though the Witnesses have made a woful Blunder about it Sanctification is no Evidence of Justification Faith and its Effects have a great share in Gospel-Holiness and sure they are Signs of Justification But such Holiness as they plead for is no Holiness and therefore no Evidence of Justification Animadversions on the foregoing Head IT is Remarkable Accusations under this Head tend to support these Two following Principles 1. That Divine Illumination is not of the Essence of Saving-Faith 2. To over-turn the Faith of Assurance or to set up one that 's not known in the Scripture and that can be of no use to Believers But I shall prove that Divine Illumination is of the Essence of saving-Saving-Faith For 1st None can believe on what they know not None can see a need of Christ nor fly unto him but they whose Eyes have been opened by the Spirit to see the Beauty Excellency and Necessity of Christ Jesus Therefore Faith is not a blind Consent to the Will only 2dly As the Spirit does work in this Faith he is called the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him that is Christ Eph. 1. 17. His Office is to open and enlighten the Eyes of the Understanding ver 18. As also to take the things of Christ and shew unto the Soul Joh. 16. 14. And to make known unto Believers the Mystery of his Will Eph. 1. 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he hath purchased to himself 3dly Faith it self is called a Revelation of Christ in the Soul Gal. 1. 15 16. But when it pleased God to separate me from my mother's womb and called me by his Grace ver 16. To reveal his Son in me is also called the Assurance of Understanding Col. 2. 2. That their hearts may be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ I might add more Reasons but I judge these sufficient But observe I do not make Faith to be only a Divine Natural Illumination or Understanding but also an Act of the Will divinely perswaded accepting of and leaning on Christ As to the Second thing I must confess the new coin'd Faith of Assurance I do not understand to wie That it is when a Christian can find such and such Marks in himself and these in sincerity then he may be assured of his Salvation and this without any mention made of looking to Christ or leaning on him in the very Act of Assurance But I find no Foot steps of such a Faith in the Scripture These are my Arguments against it Arg. 1. The Object of Saving-Faith is Christ once Crucified now at the Father's Right-Hand But this sort of Faith of Assurance sets up a Christ within a Quaker's Christ as the Object of Faith Arg. 2. If it be granted that this Faith of Assurance takes its Grounds and Denomination from as Reflect Act of Faith yet a Reflect Act of Faith is but a Repercussion upon the Conscience of that Light that shines in a direct Act of Faith so that there can be no true Marks and Signs without Faith in that moment exercis'd He that doth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought of God Joh. 3. 21. So then they that bid People try their Faith by looking within and not bidding them at that time look to Christ and that first put them in my Judgment upon an impossible Test Arg. 3. As there can be no real Marks and Signs without Faith exercis'd upon the Object so to put People upon examining the Sincerity of their supposed Marks and Signs is yet to make the Matter ten times more difficult and perplexing to the Soul Gospel-Sincerity I find in Scripture to be this viz. To mix nothing with Christ and his Righteousness in our Justification 〈◊〉 and to have right Principles Means Aims and Ends in carrying of Sanctification 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. comp together Arg. 4. They that would examine their Faith whether it be sincere by Marks and Signs without Faith in the Exercise must have a Second Mark to know the First a Third to prove the Second and a Fourth to prove the Third and so ad infinitum Hence it is that poor Souls are quite be wilder'd to bring the Matter to a determinate issue so that despairing of making their Calling and Election sure they content themselves with lazy faint and languid Hopes which have no good bottom or else what is worst of all they embrace a Cloud instead of this Assurance I shall humbly offer my Judgment of Faith of Assurance as I find it in Scripture 1. I do not deny but that when we sensibly feel our inward Grace shining in the Light of Faith we may from thence together with the Evidence of Faith inferr the Certainty of our Believing as when we sensibly perceive our Love to Christ flowing from our Faith in him we may thence conclude we have the Faith of God's Elect and so of other Graces But perhaps this is but seldom the frame of a Believer's Spirit and yet he ought when he walks in the dark to hold fast his Confidence Therefore there must needs be that that is true Assurance though not so high and so sensible as this And 1st I find in Scripture it is a strong and constant reliance upon the Ability and Faithfulness of Christ as to the Grace promised This you have instanced in Abraham's Faith Rom. 4. 20 21. He stagger'd not at the promises of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God And in ver 21. And was fully perswaded that what he had promised he was also able to perform So also instanced in the Faith of Sarah Heb. 11. 11. Through faith also Sarah her self received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age because she judged him faithful that had promised So therefore in both these Instances you may see that this their Assurance was grounded upon the Ability and Faithfulness of the Promiser It is
an Advocate with the Father for us always even when we sin and pleading his Propitiatory Sacrifice unchangably on our behalf 1 John 1. 2. Compared with Heb. 7. 24. Tho' we vary and change in our Frames and in the Exercise of Grace yet it is well for us he never changeth nor the Righteousness of his Son He is God and changeth not therefore c. Mal. 3. 6. There must be no more Conscience of sin in Believers Such is the Nature of their Sacrifice that it ought to be so this Expression also is Scriptural Heb. 10. 2. they that cavil at me herein cavil at the words of the Holy Ghost pray let them undertake to answer him for it You would mourn You would weep Christ hath mourned Christ hath wept and you have nothing to do but accept his Grace the Righteousness by which you and I must be justified is Christ's fulfilling Adam's Covenant and Mount Sinai's Covenant and the Covenant of Grace I do not remember verbatim what hath been expressed so long since malice it self must have a better memory than I to do it but I will plainly relate my Judgment in the matter 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ is according to the Scriptures the End or Consummation of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 14. And he did as it became him to fulfill all Righteousness as their Representative 2ly This offered Righteousness must be most freely accepted as a free Gift Rom. 5. 16. We must bring no Money nor Price in our hands to purchase it Isa 55. 1. 3ly Sinners are prone to mourn and weep by way of satisfaction to Justice but what ever in that nature was Penal and Satisfactory to Justice Christ dath done and suffered Isa 53. 3 4. Heb. 5. 7. When you are discouraged with Unbelief in Duty if you can believe that Jesus is there strongly believing in Heaven for you this raiseth your Faith If you see Christ loveth for you this draweth forth your love First observe this differently Phrased in the Libell so that it seems Mr. King took the same sentence from my mouth divers ways backward and forward even as his fancy pleased to chime it The same observations I have made concerning divers of these Accusations compared with them in the Libell 2. This I affirm that this Report was heard of early by us so that I and others that heard me did recollect what I delivered and we found upon such Recollection that my words were wrested and misconstrued but that I expressed my self to this Effect 1mo That Christ as our Representative fulfilled all Righteousness as is aforementioned That Christ believed and believed as our Representative Dr. Goodwin undeniably proves in his Triumph of Faith 2ly That the Graces of the Spirit he perfectly exercised as man cometh within the Compass of our Imputed Righteousness that all the Righteousness he fulfilld on Earth he carried with him to Heaven when he entred once for all not without Blood where he eternally presenteth them to the Father as the matter of our Justification and they are the Pleas he useth in his Intercession the Faith and Love and other Graces he exercised when on Earth are now in Heaven where he is 3ly Believers may take Comfort by veiwing through Faith not only their Persons but Performances covered in his Righteousness and see all their Guilt done away in his Blood see their Imperfect Obedience cover'd with his perfect Obedience This is the Summ of what was delivered and this I will stand by To fear Sin is the way to increase it The Position I laid down was this That Unbelieving Fears of Sin distrusting the Power of Christ to keep us is an inlett into sin 1 Job 4. 18. He that feareth is not made perfect in Love so divers other places which I need not insist upon now Animadversions on the foregoing Head I Cannot but judge that the Particular Accusations under the foregoing Head do infer a pernicious design against the imputed Righteousness of the Son of God viz. 1. That this Righteousness taketh not in the Active as well as the Passive Obedience of Christ which is a Principle which hath been lately minted in Opposition to the Current of Orthodox Writers to the various Confessions of Faith of the Protestants since the Reformation and to the Word of God which hath been already proved in part Therefore I shall only add this following Argument 1. The Law of God must be either satisfied or defeated in its intents and to defeat the intent of such a Holy Righteous Just Law is Antinomianism with a Witness which puteth a great Affront upon the Law-giver 2ly The Primary intent of God's Law is perfect Obedience and without perfect Obedience the Law of God cannot be satisfied 3ly Unless the Law can be satisfied there is no man living can be justified according to the Tenour of it and unless a sinner is justified he cannot be saved 4ly There is no sinner can plead satisfaction made unto it in his own proper Person therefore he must plead the satisfaction given by his Surety and Representative in his stead who fully satisfied as well the demands of it as the Penalty therefore through Faith we establish the Law Rom. 3. 31. and give it the highest Honour by offering to the Law-giver the perfect and God-like Obedience of his Son thereunto 2dly This last Head seemeth to have a bad intent to eclipse God's Act of Imputation by which this Righteousness is so made over to us for our highest Benefit and Advantages as if we our selves had wrought it out All this resulteth to Believers by virtue of Union to the Person of Christ and accepting the Union of Three Persons in One God and of Two Natures in One Person This Union is most unexpressibly great bating those Two fore-mentioned Unions we may speak as high of it and conceive as high of it as possible By virtue of the First Union God the Second Person is Equal with the Father and so the Third Co-equal with the Two former By virtue of the Second Union the Man Christ Jesus becometh the Redeemer the Mediator the Saviour Head over all Prince of Life Lord of Glory But it is Blasphemy to attribute any of this to any Believer by Virtue of a Third Union it is Blasphemy to say We are Godded with God Christed with Christ or that we become Saviours and Redeemers c. Yet however this 3d. Union conferreth great Titles and Privileges upon Believers according to the Scriptures As nothing can be spoken too high of the Righteousness of Christ so the Holy Scriptures of Truth do speak very magnificently of those that are cloathed with it They are said to be made Kings and Priests to God and the Father Rev. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 6. A Holy Priesthood ver 9. A Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood an Holy Nation a Peculiar People As to Christ they are called Members of his Body Ephes 5. 30. 1
These Libellers by an unadvised blabbing out of what they have done concerning Silencing do declare what they expect will be hatched at last amongst the united Brethren at London viz. an old imperious Classis revived again But it would be Prudence in them to tarry first for the generating warmth of Royal Authority which I hope will never be The Story of Mr. Holcraft is a Fiction as divers in Cambridge-shire do attest I shall not mention what his Judgment was of a contrary Nature concerning me not long before his death but he is now in Glory And it is an easy matter to fix Stories on People when they are dead when the Reporters know they are secured from having their Fictions contradicted The Story of the two grave Ministers I shall consider in its place They speak wickedly to say that I make Disturbances in the Country but it is their Wickedness Lying Slandering and a bloody Spirit of Persecution they manifest every where that creates the Disturbance Could they or the Magistrates either have found any thing against me save in the matters of my God it would have been done afore now for the exactest Scrutiny has been made in order to Indictments Now I come to consider the formidable Charge relating to my Principles and Doctrines I have observed they have laid down four places especially where they pretend these Doctrines have been delivered viz. Rothwell and thereabouts Kimbolton and thereabouts Wellingborough Cambridge and thereabouts The Members and Hearers that usually attend my Ministry in these four places may make but one work of it to confront their Testimony in each place respectively Accordingly I shall methodically digest their Charge with my Answers suited to these four Scenes and the rather because my Principles and Doctrines as they alledge were delivered at Rowell or thereabouts are these following And first I begin with Rowell 1. Our Lord Jesus preached not Terror Answ I remember no such thing nor does the Church but I believe it false and so do they 2. A sense of Sin enrages persons against Christ Answ A sense of Sin purely legal in a state of Nature has a tendency to Despair and pure Despair always enrages Souls against Christ and his Grace 3. The Devil of lying has filled the tongues of many Professors Answ I do not believe I said so from their malicious charging of me tho' this cannot be said of all blessed be God yet 't is too notorious there is a lying Spirit gone forth in the mouths of very many Professors especially their Mouths and Pens concerned in the Libel 4. Actually justified from Eternity Answ It was thus I preached or asserted it If by being justified from Eternity be meant our being justified in the Decree and Compact I judge that to be Truth and God's Decrees and Covenanting are his Acts. This I know I have been chiefly on my Guard in this Matter And when it was first charged upon me I was in London and heard of it only on my return home Yet I do not deny but at first I spoke of Eternal Justification in Foro Dei as Dr. Twisse Mr. Pemble and many of the transmarine Divines have asserted as Mr. Baxter himself does acknowledg yet always restrained it to the fore-knowledg of God his Decree and the eternal Compact 'T is true finding the Decree of Election no where expressed by the name of Justification I waved at last that term and kept rather to that of eternal electing Love and Grace because I would not keep on foot a vain strife about words to no profit only to the subverting of the Hearers 2 Tim. 2. 14. When I seriously weigh'd Isa 50. 8 9. compared with Rom. 8. 33 34. and divers other Scriptures I cannot yet but maintain and assert A virtual Justification of the whole Elect of God tho' not yet called in Christ their common Head ever since his Resurrection Especially when I was so confirmed therein by the excellent discourse of Dr. Goodwyn on that Subject in his Triumph of Faith And they that take away the Representativeship of Christ the Foundation of our Gospel introduce a new Scheme of Religion that I cannot find in the Bible I do not see what need there is of all this noise about words as long as I have constantly preach'd and affirm'd That elect Sinners are dead in Trespasses and Sins and under the declar'd Condemnation of Law and Gospel till they believe and that then and only then they are freed from that Condemnation which I take to be actual Justification by Faith As to Justification by Faith I need not put my self to the trouble to define it as long as I am well satisfy'd with the definition given thereof by the Assembly and Savoy Confession by which I shall stand and let this suffice for an Answer to the following malicious Charges 5. That Charge tacked to this viz. That God loved us from Eternity does very much confirm the Suspicions I long entertained that under the Notion of eternal Justification they fought against eternal electing Love and Grace Mutato nomine pro te Narratur These Jealousies were first fomented in my mind by observing that not only well-meaning People violently with great Ignorance disputed the Point but Men of corrupt minds were the fiercest in the Contest And I further observed the Arguments they brought were the very same alledged by the Arminian Party to decry eternal Election and that made me the more willing oftentimes so to frame my method of Argumentation as made many honest People think I held an elect Person actually and declaratively free from the condemnation of the Law before Faith which was a mistake My saying and unsaying the same thing is but a Falshood charged upon me of the same piece with the rest The Country Divine the Libeller mentions was Mr. Chandler for with him I had discourse upon this Point and when he objected my timing of Justification I only replied I never told him yet when I timed it and continued on my Guard all the while 'T is true I asserted everlasting electing Love which he told me afterwards was one of my Blasphemies But I think he may as well charge it on the Book of God particularly two places Jer. 31. 3. Ephes 2. 4. which affirm it in plain terms 6. There must be no Works because God rested in Christ c. Answ What always was contended for which these Arminians and Amyraldists cannot bear was this that no Works must come into our Justification but Holiness as flowing from Faith I have always preached and pressed constantly affirming That they that have believed do maintain good works Tit. 3. 8. as hundreds can witness But perhaps these Prevaricators judge nothing to be preaching up of good Works unless they be urged as Terms and Conditions of our Pardon and Justification and Perseverance therein as the Terms of our eternal Blessedness 7. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life but ye
only think so Answ The Adversaries themselves make nothing of this and it needeth no Answer Our Lord there speaketh to the Pharisees who themselves judged the Scriptures to shew the way to eternal life but yet they did not see he was the Person the Scriptures testified of No doubt People may set up a bare knowledge of the Letter of the Scripture in the room of the Mediator as it was the Case of the Pharisees 8. Make me as one of thy hired Servants Luke 15. 9. Lo here is his unbelief when God would have him be a Son he would be a Servant Answ Questionless 't is Unbelief not to accept of what is offered and what we are commanded to receive That is the only true modesty that glorieth not in the Flesh but in Christ and his Righteousness And that 's Gospel-humility where the Soul is emptied of itself most receiving from the fulness of Christ There may be a legal humility and unbelieving modesty What think ye of their modesty mentioned Acts 13. 46. whom the Apostles Paul and Barnabas charge with high wickedness for judging themselves unworthy of eternal life 9. There shall go forth such from Rowell as shall sound the Gospel over these three Kingdoms Answ I cannot tell whether ever it was said so by any yet I can say it is my hopes the Lord Jesus e're long will send forth out of other Churches of Christ as well as that at Rothwell such as shall be made very instrumental for the conversion of Souls WE the Members of the Church of Christ over whom Mr. R. Davis is Pastor and his constant Hearers having seriously considered the aforesaid Principles laid to his Charge do declare and testify they are utterly false and that the current of his Doctrine has been as he himself has laid it down And further the design of his preaching amongst us has been to offer pardoning Grace through the blood of Christ freely to Sinners to press them to accept thereof on the pain of damnation To press us to Holiness from the principle of saving Faith To advance the Person and Offices of the Lord Jesus likewise the Person Offices Graces and Gifts of the Spirit And lastly to advance electing Grace reigning through the Righteousness of Christ Jesus We also attest that all those evil Practices laid to his Charge and especially the ridiculous-Falshoods about Admissions are abominable Vntruths Where unto we have subscribed our Names at the general Church-meeting it being a solemn Day of Fasting and Prayer Robert Tebatt John Taylor Jonathan Wells John Arnall William Watts Edward Coales Francis Cave Thomas Chambers Robert Hills John Mansfield Thomas Servell Thomas Rowlatt Nathaniel Chamber Samuel Lades John Bridges Thomas Kilingworth William Whittwell James Taylor Richard Tebatt Christopher Brett Jacob Harle Joseph Person Thomas Ladson James Bodymore Richard Gaurn John Wood Stephen Smith Jonathan Palmore Robert Hoeman John Tebatt Robert King Thomas Whittwell Thomas Hall Samuel Knight John Wills William King William Arch Thomas Paine Thomas Remington Samuel Rogers These following were pretended to be delivered about Kimbolton 10. There are five times wherein Christ intercedes c. Answ However the two Ministers represented it that which was said was this That there are five times of Christ's especial Intercession Not that his Intercession is changeable in itself but in respect of us as to the effects thereof As for Instance Christ intercedes for his Elect before called yet then only it takes effect when they are effectually called So again for his Children under Backslidings yet then made effectual when they are recovered And as for the time of greater sinning it was thus alledged That then he intercedes that their Faith may not totally fail It was illustrated by the Example of Peter Satan's design in his Tryal was not only to cause him to deny his Master but also to take occasion from thence to urge him to cast away all his hopes But says our Lord I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not I never held nor preached That his Intercession was Oral that was the Construction Prejudice put upon it This is my Judgment That he presents his Satisfaction to his Father in a way consistent with his glorify'd state The preverting the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and making it to signify a Comforter in 1 John 2. 1. is indeed according to the Grotian Divinity I judge the Libellers would do well to consider that Christ there is represented as transacting above with his Father and not with us It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Advocate with the Father And whether that be good Sense to render it thus That he transacts as a Comforter towards his Father I leave it to the Judgment of judicious and indifferent Persons E're I part with this I must fix a Falshood upon the Libellers who affirm That two Ministers discoursed me about it at that time whereas it was Mr. Chandler then only spoke to me and it was about the Sense of that Scripture Mat. 10. 32 33. 11. Justification by Faith is only a manifestation of it in our Conscience Answ That I said Only a manifestation of it in our Consciences is false like all the rest But that justifying Faith in the infused Principle thereof is a divine supernatural Manifestation or Revelation to the Conscience is undeniably grounded upon the holy Scripture of Truth Thus saith the Lord Hebr. 11. 1. Faith is the evidence or demonstration of things not seen but yet the demonstration of the Spirit and of power 1 Cor. 2. 4. Christ as working this Faith is said to manifest himself John 14 21 22. The Spirit as the efficient thereof is said to testify of Jesus John 15. 26. To take of the things of Christ and shew them to the Soul John 16. 14. God the Father also as the great Author of Faith is asserted to reveal his Son in the Soul Gal. 1. 16. And he that believeth hath the witness or manifestation in himself 1 John 5. 10. with divers other Scriptures Whence 't is evident That Faith is a Divine Manifestation in the Principle thereof and the Act flowing from it is the Soul's acceptance of manifested Grace and Principle and Act are of the essence of saving Faith Therefore it follows First They that contend for their word Illumination in opposition to Scriptural terms plainly prefer their own Phrases before the Words which the wisdom of the Holy Ghost teacheth Secondly But more especially they that exclude Divine-Illumination or Manifestation from the Essence of saving Faith either set up 1. An implicit Popish Blindfold Faith or 2 dly Set up Faith to act without a Principle which is monstrous and absurd or 3 dly Since in this Divine Principle of living Light Christ comes into the Soul by his Spirit and therein supernatural Power is communicated to the Soul to act as a living Soul in Christ they consequently set up a power in Man's Soul to believe antecedent to Christ's coming to
of his judgment because by his cunning he had kept a Church from Order Offices and Ordinances for eleven years and upwards asserted this That Judgment was to be preferred before Zeal I answered Both did well together yet that oftentimes they that had less knowledge but had zeal for Christ with uprightness and integrity did more service for Christ than they that had knowledge and no zeal I need not stand to defend this For the very stating of these things aright is sufficient for their defence yet I would put this question to the Informer What does he deserve that knows his Master's Will and does it not Luke 12. 47. 32. The Law sets persons a thousand times farther off from Christ Answ Whether I said a thousand times I much doubt But this is certain the Law or Covenant of Works abstractedly considered or Convictions meerly legal drive the Soul either to sink into despair or else to work for life and so attain to a sinful security both which lead far enough from Christ 33. There are several genuine senses of the same Scripture Answ This was alledged in a discourse at Hitchin that the Spirit of God may diversly apply one and the same Scripture Divers Instances we have hereof in Scripture a few I shall name that that 's spoke prophetically Isa 54. to the Gentile Churches is applied to the Gospel and Covenant of Grace Gal. 4. 27. Again that place Psal 3. 7. Thou art my Son this day I have begotten thee Several Divines apply it to the hodiè eternitatis grounded on the beginning of the Verse I will declare the Decree This day is applied by the Apostle to the birth of Christ Hebr. 1. 5. This day is affixed to the Resurrection of Christ Acts 13. 33. to the Ascension of Christ and sitting down at the Father's right hand Psal 110. compared with Psal 2. Hebr. 5 5 6. The Apostle there intimates this spoke to our Lord at his entrance upon that branch of his Office his Intercession above compare this with chap. 4. ver 14. Hence Synopsis Criticorum on the place Quaerunt occasione hujus similium locorum nam plures esse possint unius loci sensus litterales à Spiritu sancto intenti Quidam affirmant Alii negant c. If the Holy Ghost should apply any Scripture to comfort me and therein endear Christ his Righteousness his Laws and Ordinances that 's the genuine sense of it to me Another Instance I shall add is Isa 53. 4. Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows There no doubt is principally intended our Lord's bearing the vengeance due to the Sins of the Elect But 't is also applied to his bearing their Sicknesses and Infirmities Mat. 8. 17. To confirm this I alledged 1 Pet. 20. 21. whence I inferred no Scripture is confined to any Man 's private interpretation but the Holy Ghost may apply the same to this or that Case as he pleases and divers ways comfort several Believers from the same portion of holy Writ That what 's subjoined to my pretending to a Spirit above all is false and injurious The Question in debate was this Whether the Spirit be not the only infallible Interpreter of Holy Scriptures which are of his own indicting And whether he is not promised as such to the Ministers of Christ John 16. 13. Yea and to all Believers also if they can trust him 1 John 2. 20 27. I then and do still maintain the Affirmative But the vile Pamphleteers herein manifest themselves and deny the Offices of the Holy Spirit as they do blaspheme him notoriously in another place 34. He would be an happy Man that should break all the Churches in England to pieces Answ What was said of this nature was Table-talk in Cambridge with Mr. Worden and I only repeated to him Dr. Owen's words as I had them from the mouth of worthy Alderman Love a little before his death without any addition of my own as will be attested by them that sat at Dinner with Mr. Worden and myself 35. God never designed the Offers of Grace should be made to all but only to the Elect. Answ Thus it was exprest in private discourse Altho' the Ministers of the Gospel must offer the grace of the Gospel to all that hear them universally without exceptions because they know not who the Elect are yet God designs his offered grace and salvation only for the Elect Rom. 11. 7. For the Elect obtain it and the rest are blinded I prove it thus Christ died intentionally only for the Elect therefore the saving Benefits of his Death in the general tenders of the Gospel are intended only by God for the Elect and sure none will deny this Position but a rank Arminian Thus I have run over the Charges of the Libel as to matters of Doctrine with short Answers thereunto And I appeal to the sober part of Mankind whether these Libellers have not dealt disingenuously and unchristian like with me not only in concealing their own Names and the Names of their Informers but also in wresting my Words and Sentences as well them of private Debates as those delivered in publick Preaching and so forcing them to speak their own Sense and then naming them my Doctrines besides many things invented when nothing was spoken like them so the world may see what sort of Truth they are like to expect from them in what follows I believe what they cast upon our gifted Brethren carrieth the same falshood and disingenuity in its Forehead However they are of Age sufficient to answer for themselves and perhaps they may do it when they see it convenient The account they give of our Practice is so filthy so noisom so filled with abominable untruths that I know not how to touch so much dirt without being defiled At Wellemberough I railed at none but vindicated my self from a false Aspersion cast upon me That Story of Bricksworth and those two of the London Ministers are egregious Falshoods The three Lyes I am charg'd with of telling a Minister at Kimbolton Lecture are justly chargeable on that Minister who confidently averred before divers 1. That I had no dismission from London before I was chosen Pastor 2. That the Letter of Dismission was not directed to them at Rowel 3. That it was extorted from the Church at London by the importunity of the people at Rowel All three ate false and can be contradicted by two Churches and our Church-Book But he was so blind when he asserted these successively that he could not see how these contradicted and destroyed one another This Minister as I suppose is he that the Book stiles The young Spark of a Bee that falls to Club law presently conjectured to live on the South-side of the Plague between London and Rothwel This same Minister would fain make a Lye of a plain Truth I told him from London I acquainted him in my return home that his Relations and Friends desired there
Subversion of the Hearers Whether you do not rather gratify their sinful Lusts both by your Discourses and Pamphlet and form them up to Pride Malice Strife and Contention than to heavenly-mindedness spiritual conversation and an holy walk How should they follow your Faith when you are the greatest Opposers of the grace of Faith in the Nation And how dangerous it is for them to consider the end of your conversation which is Self and Sin and not Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 7 8. 3. Consider seriously Whether you have not exposed Religion as well by your former actings as by this Libel to the contempt and scorn of the common People Was it not the highest wickedness in you so to order the disposal of many of them as that they were put into the hands of Alehouse-keepers to vend away very cheap or give them gratis to their tipling Company to create them Sport upon their Ale-benches and so render our holy Profession to be the Mockery and Song of the Drunkards and also dispose of them to the poor harvest Folks to read under Hedges You have not only stumbled them from hearing of me but your selves also and every one that beareth the Name of a dissenting Minister You have not only made me odious but Religion our Profession and the dissenting Interest in general Their hatred and ignorance will neither know or make any difference 4. Search into your own hearts and consider by what Principles you have been carried forth in all your former opposition as well as this Libel Lee your Consciences answer truly in the presence of the awful Searcher of hearts as they are always open and naked before his eyes with whom you and I have to do And have they not been Self-gain Self preheminence Ambition Pride Malice and Revenge Is not your Cry like the old Cry of Demetrius and his Followers That your Craft is in danger to be spoilt and your Gain like to be lost Let the Apostle James if you are ashamed answer for your Consciences and for all Jam. 4. 1. From whence cometh wars and fightings amongst you come they not hence from your lusts that war in your members ver 2. Ye lust and have not ye kill and desire to have but cannot obtain ye fight and war yet ye have not because ye ask not ver 3. Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts ver 5. Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy ver 6. But he giveth more grace wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud but giveth grace unto the humble 5. Consider seriously what spirit you have acted in all along Was it in the Spirit of Christ or your own spirits Nay was it not in the very worse dregs of your own spirits Weigh this well Whether you have managed your selves in opposition to supposed Errors according to those Commands of the Lord 2 Tim. 2. 3. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid knowing that they gender strife ver 24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient ver 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventrire will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth Ah! Have not you rather carried it quite contrary even in your manifest fruits of the flesh such as variance emulations wrath strife envyings back-bitings whisperings swellings tumults c 2 Cor. 12. 10. Had your Cause been never so good yet your way of managing it has been enough to ruine it 6. Was it the honour and glory of Christ that you proposed at the end of such Actions or rather the advancement of some cursed Idols of Self Any unprejudic'd Man that reads your Libel can soon determine the Question Can you think this to be a likely way even in a spirit of bitterness and persecution to reclaim us from those Errors and Heresies that you assert we are fallen into Why did not you in prudence and good manners give way to the wiser learneder and graver heads at London to make the first tryal of their Skill And why must you with your printed Mint of Slander impertinently iuterrupt them and rudely anticipate their Essays and by a malevolent conjunction of so bad a Libel with their Ketterin Visitation cast such an Odium upon them and their Proceedings as cannot in haste be wiped away 7. Consider Whether it be not the greatest Uncharitableness to judge that the great Numbers converted by this erroneous Preaching as you call it are all under Delusions What is Conversion if this be not that those who were so grosly ignorant are so enlightned as to understand and speak so judiciously clearly and experimentally of the person and undertakings of the Lord Jesus and Justification by him alone of the beauty and excellency they saw by Faith in him his suitableness to their wants and the absolute necessity they have of him and his righteousness through a deep sight of their sin and misery and a supernatural discovery of him Is it not evident also that those who were formerly very wicked and profligate in their Lives and Conversations are now become religious serious and circumspect Yea those that are afflicted when they are themselves do adore the Doctrine of our Lord and Saviour and are most awful of God in Christ These many of them live in your Neighborhoods and no doubt many of them by their holy Lives and zealous Profession leave a Testimony in your Consciences for the work of God wrought upon their Souls If you approve not of their Conversion how came some of you to admit several of them into your Churches It seems their Conversion is good enough if they offer themselves to you Can you be then so censorious to judge them all acted by a Satanical Spirit and not converted If many of them are true Converts how dare you blast that Doctrine that God hath blest to reach them with the dreadful name of execrable Heresie It is an old and a true Maxim That the God of Truth never puts his Seal to a Lye We can say in great humility and self-abasing giving the sole honour to the excellency of the power that is of God that those despised Truths such poor Worms as we have deliver'd in the Name of the Lord and have been received amongst us have been sealed and attested to with Fire from Heaven I mean the Spirit of the Lord. 8. Consider this how grosly you abuse us to say we are against the Law of God No we constantly affirm The Law is good if a Man use it lawfully Nor are we against the preaching of it as it ought to be preached We always preach the Law of God demands of Sinners complete and infinite satisfaction and they that will satisfie the penalty of the Law in their own persons must go to Hell to do it
the same with that called the Plerophery of Faith Heb. 10. 22. And that is founded upon 1st The Means of Admittance to the Father by the Blood of Jesus ver 19. 2dly The Way of Admittance to the Father viz. The new and living way consecrated through the vail that is to say the flesh of Jesus ver 21. Who is our Common Head and Representative through whom we are admitted to the Father viz. such an High-priest over the house of God ver 21. So that I conclude the more strongly purely unmixtly and frequently we behold and lean upon Christ the more Light cometh in from the Object to evidence our Faith it self The more an Infant exerciseth his Legs the more he knoweth he hath them and also knows their Usefulness and the more veturous he is of walking on them 2. I find this Faith of Assurance called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 freedom of speech or access so it is called Heb. 3. 6. 10. 35. 1 Job 3. 21. 5. 14. Which is going to God in Christ with great freedom as a Friend to a Friend and asking the things we have need of with great freedom of speech And this also is grounded upon their Representative who is entred to represent us above even Jesus the Son of God who also is above touched with the feeling of our Infirmities here below Heb. 4. 16. compared with ver 14 15. 3. I find this sort of Assurance in the Scripture viz. The Sealing of the Spirit after Believing Ephes 1. 13. called The Earnest of our Inheritance viz. The Beatifical Vision above stiled also The times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord Act. 3. 19. In which the Spirit of the Lord in one Promise or other suited to the Believer's Case doth give an undeniable and irresistible Assurance unto the Soul that Christ is his and that he is Pardoned and Justified and consequently an Elect Vessel though it lasts but for a little season In these sorts of Assurance I find none of them built upon our inherent Qualifications but on Jesus Christ the Corner-stone and all Three of them cast anchor within the vail upon the great fore-runner that is enter'd for us even Jesus made an High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedeck He preaching said How came the Covenant of Works and the Elect under it It was to illustrate the Electing Love of God and not to make the Elect Haypy The Law enter'd that the Offence might abound the Law was too weak when Man was in his best Estate to reign over him to Eternal Life 1. It is an undeniable Maxim That all things toward the Elect are made to subserve the Design of Electing Love and Grace 2. That it appears ab eventu as well as from God's Word That Electing Grace was only design'd to make the Elect Happy Therefore it undeniably followeth That the Covenant of Works with its Breaches came in to illustrate and agrandize Electing Love and Grace and I think that Scripture Rom. 5. 10. proveth it Though Moses's Law be there intended yet the Covenant of Works made with the Elect in the first Adam is not thereby excluded nay I think chiefly designed For to me it 's plain that the Law of Moses was but a manifestative Copy of the Covenant of Works made with Adam I judge this is past Contradiction That the Covenant of Works could never have secur'd the Elect in Eternal Happiness This is manifest from God's Word and from the Event for it did not secure their standing One day This Honour therefore is to be given to the Covenant of Redemption of which the Lord the Redeemer is the Surety None but a rank Arminian will deny this therefore I wonder to what purpose this is sent as a Charge That Believers under the Law had their Life from their Doings and they had no longer Life than when they were crying and weeping and groaning Witnessed by Mr. Robert Page who entring into a Conference with Mr. Davis about it objected Isai 53. 5. He was wounded c. and therefore the Prophet believed on Christ To which Mr. Davis replied The Prophet did not understand what he said This I have answer'd pretty largely in the Answer to the Libel therefore I shall not insist much on it now Only this I shall observe That the whole current of the Epistles written by the Apostles is to shew an extraordinary Difference between the Two Administrations And this is made the main thing That now the Just live by Faith Not that this excludes the Faith of the Old-Testament-Saints but only makes that of the New-Testament-Saints far to exceed it The Instances of David and others of the Prophets overturns not that general Rule allowed in the former Dispensation they were rare singular and extraordinary besides the Holy Ghost saith expresly what they said was but Prophetical of what should be in Gospel-Days For they did not minister unto themselves but unto us the things which are now reported unto us by them that Preach the Gospel 1 Pet. 1. 12. And this was it which I said in Answer to Mr. Robert Page how invidiously soever he curtails it when he affirmed that the Prophet Isaiah understood the Meaning and Gospel of his own Prophecy as well as the Apostle Paul from which aforementioned Scripture I observed that the Grace and Salvation Prophesied of by them in its Clearness and Dispensation belonged to the New-Testament-Saints for it is said who Prophesy'd of the Grace that should come untoyou 2. It is Evident from the Words that in their Prophecies they did not minister to themselves at all thus not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are reported unto you by them that Preach the Gospel unto you But if they had seen into it as clear as New-Testament-Saints they would certainly have ministered unto themselves which the Holy Ghost saith they did not doe 3. It is manifest from that Place that they searched and enquired diligently what was the meaning of their own Prophecies for they not only searched what they Prophesied but after what manner the things Prophesied should be accomplish'd and when ver 11. Searching what or what manner of time i. e. what Manner of Dispensation it should be The Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified before hand the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow What need all this diligent search and enquiry into these Matters and yet after all could not administer them unto themselves if the Spirit had revealed unto them the meaning of their own Prophecies as clearly as he did to the Apostle Paul afterwards To this Robert Page made no Answer but that that Place of Scripture must needs have another Meaning but what that other Meaning is he hath not told me to this Day Believers under the Law had no real Sight of Christ Mr. Chandler here also witnesseth very corruptly For what I said was this which is ready
to the whole revealed Mind and Will of God in his Word and upon his own Authority but as it is a saving Grace it is a work of the Spirit whereby a Sinner doth see and behold Christ in all his Excellencies and is persuaded and enabled to look to him to go forth from Sin and Self to lay hold of Christ and to rest and relie on Christ and his Righteousness for Acceptance with God and Eternal Salvation XVI Of Effectual Calling Effectual Calling is the powerful Voice of the Son of God by his Spirit accompanying his Word whereby a Sinner is enabled to accept of Christ upon his own Terms according to the Promise of the Gospel therefore it relates to Faith XVII Of Assurance Assurance is not a bare conjectural and probable Persuasion but the infallible certainty of Faith founded upon the Testimony of the Spirit of Adoption witnessing with our Spirits that we are the Children of God altho many Believers have not attained to this Assurance yet it is the Duty of all to seek after it and those that have attained to it may have it divers ways shaken and diminish'd through Sin and Temptations XVIII Of Perseverance The Perseverance of the Saints depends not upon their own Free Will or inherent Grace already received but upon the Immutability of the Love of God in the Decree of Election the Efsicay and Merit of the Intercession of Christ The Nature of the Covenant of Grace and the abiding of the Spirit of God Altho true Believers cannot fall finally and totally yet they may fall into grievous Sins and may continue in them for a while whereby they grieve the Spirit lessen their Comforts wound their Consciences scandalise others and do come under the Rebuke of God's fatherly Corrections for their Recovery and Amendment XIX Of Adoption Adoption is an act of the free Grace of God in and for his only Son Jesus Christ whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his Children have his Name put upon them the Spirit of his Son given unto them are under his fatherly Care and Correction admitted to all the Liberties and Privileges of the Sons of God made Heirs of all the Promises and Fellow-heirs with Christ in Glory XX. Of Sanctification Sanctification is the Work of God's Grace whereby they whom God has before the Foundation of the World chosen to be Holy are in time through the powerful Operation of the Spirit applying the Death and Resurrection of Christ unto them renew'd in their whole Man after the Image of God having the Seeds of Repentance and of all other saving Graces put into their Hearts and those Graces so stirred up increased and strengthned as that they more and more dye unto Sin and rise up unto Newness of Life in the lively Actings and Exercises of Faith XXI Of Repentance True Gospel Repentance is a saving Grace wrought by the Spirit of God whereby we are enabled thorough believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for Life and Salvation to turn from Sin unto God XXII Preparatory Works Works done before Faith however good in themselves yet are vain fruitless sinful and not pleasing to God and therefore can't make us any ways meet for the receiving of Grace XXIII Of Good Works Good Works are then only Good when they are the Fruits of Faith and they ought to be carefully maintain'd by Believers not that they may thereby be justified or continued in a justified State but that they may glorifie God and answer the Ends of their Redemption by Jesus Christ XXIV Of the Moral Law The Moral Law holds the Elect during their Unregeneracy under its condemning Force 'till they believe and is unto all Believers a Rule for Obedience which they are enabled to conform unto by the Power of God's Grace XXV Of the State of Believers after Death and their Resurrection The Souls of Believers immediately after Death are made perfect in Holiness are received up to Heaven and behold the Face of God in Light and Glory Their Bodies in the mean time resting in the Grave till the Resurrection are then Re-united to their Souls in Perfect Blessedness and full Enjoyment of God forever XXVI Of the Last Iudgment God has appointed a Day wherein he will Judge the Quick and the Dead in Righteousness by Jesus Christ to whom all Power and Judgment is given of the Father for the Glorifying his Divine Mercy in the Salvation of the Elect and of his Divine Justice in the Eternal Damnation of the Wicked and Disobedient FINIS An Answer to some part of that Pamphlet Called A Plain and Just Account of a Plague being at Rothwell c. Wherein it will be manifest that they that gave the Account gave a very unjust Account in some Matters as in others they Charge as Errors the great Truths of the Gospel of our Lord. By Rob Betson Pastor of the Church of Christ in Wellingborough OH that my Head was a Fountain of Tears that I could Weep Day and Night for a Generation of Men professing love to Christ and Souls and yet their Mouths are full of Revilings and their Pens dipt in Gall as the first Page testifieth and several other places in the Book wherein they act like that Orator Tertullus in Acts 24. 5. We have found this Man a pestilent fellow and a mover of Sedition among all the Jews throughout the World and a Ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens c. Thus he accused and the Jews assented saying That these things were so vers 9. And thus do the Writers of this Pamphlet accuse God's Servant Mr. Davis with many others which I question not but they are dear to our Lord Jesus But yet the People are ready to say all is true that can be spoken yea this I observe these Men will believe the Reports of the worst of Men against him when they will not believe their nearest Friends that speak for him tho what they speak they have seriously weigh'd which sheweth them to be of their minds Jeremy complaineth of Chap. 20. 10. Report say they and we will Report it But I believe the Lord in his own time will vindicate the Faith and Order of that Gospel which is now opposed by a Generation of Men that have not the Power of Godliness However I earnestly intreat all that fear the Lord to cease Reviling and take Paul's Counsel Ephesians 4. 31 32. Let all Bitterness and Wrath and Anger and Clamor and evil speaking be put away and be ye kind one to another And if you yet be in doubt take Gamaliel's Counsel Acts 5. 38 39. For we are very willing that whatever there is that is not of God should fall and we are also sure that whatever is of God you cannot overturn it therefore pray have a Care you be not found fighters against God And pray weigh very seriously what Mr. Davis hath written in answer to what is charged against him for I do trust that in
the Fear of God he hath answered what he intended to answer I shall therefore leave his Answers and give some Answer to another part of the Pamphlet where they seem to leave him and begin to rail on others as you have their Words in Page 16. where they say You may now sake a taste of the Doctrins of some of his Journey Men the Shoemakers Joyners Taylors Diers c. which he hath sent forth to Preach as an Apostolical Tribe for like Number Preheminence and what not Thus far their own Words Now let the Reader judge 1. Whether what is spoken be not in a malicious disdainful way and whether it be not like that Matth. 13. 55. Is not this the Carpenters Son And Mark 6. 3. Is not this the Carpenter I do believe they will find it so when what they boast it shall be brought down and the Lord alone exalted it may be by mean Instruments as he was at first by Fisher-men though the Learned of the Age could not then bear it But sure Christians should not follow the Pharisees steps 2. Consider whether there is not a Blasphemer's Reflection upon the Twelve Apostles of our Lord in comparing our Number to that Number seeing they have no reason for it there not being such a number of us only some Wicked Persons were pleased to say There was Davis and his Twelve Apostles but must Professors follow their steps I think that Word of Christ should stop them Rev. 2. 9. I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not 3. Consider whether they be not guilty of Lying in saying that he sent them out as an Apostolical Tribe But I shall now answer what followeth concerning my self who they name by Name though with many wicked false Reflections which might have been better to have been spared than vented by those that pretend Christianity unless they think their Tongues are their own and there is no Lord over them But I bless the Lord who inableth me to rejoice that I am counted worthy to suffer for his Name sake for upon diligent Search I know no reason those Men have thus to revile me for as for my manner of Life the Lord hath not yet left me to be blamed for which I bless his holy Name and desire still to be kept and whereas they call me Ape I never yet was left to follow any Man in things wherein I did not conceive they followed Christ but Whereas they say Mr. Davis set me up a Pastor to some conceited People in Wellingborough I answer First It is false for Mr. Davis did not set me up a Pastor for we Inchurched together according to the Rule of the Gospel and being Inchurched I was set apart with Fasting and Prayer in the Church according to the Primitive Pattern and Mr. Davis Mr. Bear and Mr. Greenwood all Elders of other Churches and several Members of other Churches were by as Witnesses and not Actors the manner of our acting I shall readily relate more fully to any that desire it if it might stop the false Accusations of Unreasonable Men so that by this you may see it is a false Accusation 2. It is a reproachful Reflection for I do believe they that be of us fear God and will one day stand at the Right-hand of Christ and then it will be dismal to be found one that did revile them Now followeth what they said was my Doctrins and my Answers to them 1. That I said God's Word doth not tell us how we must believe and they refer to Head 25. where you may see their Revilings where they say that I said If a Revelation of the Spirit will not satisfie you we cannot satisfie you I Answer 1. To the former part when I first heard it I did declare that I did look upon the holy Scriptures to be the only Rule of Faith and Practice and so I do still and I offer'd them to meet any Man to Discourse with him that would say that ever I did affirm the contrary and Mr. Alen that was at Northampton sent to them to meet me but they would not but disagreed among themselves and are now broken by their Wickedness But I am troubled to hear that they should falsly Charge me their Conversations gave great Ground to suspect that the Word of God is not a Rule to them 2. That if a Revelation of the Spirit do not satisfie we cannot I do say That Faith is a Revelation of Christ by the Spirit to the Soul and a Persuasion by the same Spirit to leave Sin and Self and trust in Christ so revealed And by this Revelation and Persuasion of the Spirit the Soul is satisfied and not by any human Testimony without it Math. 11. 25. Rom. 8. 16. 3. Doctrin they say I said God commended that which Simeon and Levi did notwithstanding Jacob cursed them and that I should make as if God commended by Judith's Mouth what he cursed by Jacob's c. Answer 1. I never did say that God Commended Simeon and Levi's Actions who in their Rage did what they did in breaking in upon the City only I plead this by way of Allusion their taking their Sister out of the House of Sechem and not dealing with her as with an Harlot from which I pressed the Church of Christ in Cambridge-shire to use the Means Christ hath appointed in his Gospel Matth. 18. 15 16 17. for the recovery of those that had offended Mr. Holcraft and Harris were then present with the Church and Mr. Holcraft on that day with the Churches consent called me to Minister the Word among them in order to my being called to be Pastor to a part of them and sure if there had been such things delivered they would have discerned them and not so far as they did have signified their Approbation But truly with Grief I write if the Person that drew this Conclusion from my words is so filled with Anger that it appeareth on more accounts than one he careth not what he saith The Lord forgive him 2. I never did make use of Judith's Name nor Actions neither did it ever come into my mind so that I am called villanous for that which I never was guilty of but the Lord humble them for their Evil Speaking Then they ask the Question what I would gather from it and say that my next words tell Therefore my Friends buckle on your Swords and fetch your Brethren back from Idolatry to which they add many wicked scornful Speeches Ans I never did advise to this way of fetching back Brethren for it is against my Judgment to use it in matters of Religion indeed I did put them upon Reforming and I earnestly wish all in England would Reform for I am sure there is need of it and I am willing to go with them tho I go under many Reproaches for it is Reformation my Soul breatheth after but I need no Carnal Weapons but am well satisfied