that He is our Righteousness not only giveth Righteousness but He is our Righteousness by Imputation The Doctrine of Imputation of Christ's Righteousness though W. Pen in his Serious Apology pag. 148. blasphemously calls it A Doctrine of Devils is very rational to them that are taught of God 1. If the Guilt of Adam's first Transgression was ours by Imputation which cannot be denied from Rom. 5.12 In whom all have finned If that first Sin so many thousand Years since why not the Righteousness of Christ sixteen hundred Years since If that to all his Seed and Children why not this to Christ's Seed and Children 2. If Christ Jesus had the Guilt of Sin really charged upon him and imputed when as He had no Sin inherent what else is to be understood by that 2 Cor. 5. ult He was made Sin If as some would have it only the punishment of Sin in being offered and sacrificed Punishment hath always respect to Sin otherwise it is not poena but must change its Name then the Guilt of the Sin of his People must be imputed to him And this was plainly sigured in the Sacrifices under the Law when all the Sins of Israel were confessed over the Heads of the Beasts and so offered and slain If this be true why not then Christ's Righteousness to become ours the same way viz. by Imputation 3. Was not Christ the Second Adam and so a common Head and Representative Now what such an one doth is as much as if they did it that are represented Christ was a Surety Heb. 7.22 Why then his Paiment is ours what he had did and suffered was not so much for Himself as for his Members Fifthly There is much difference betwixt this Righteousness of Christ and that which the Apostle Paul calls his own in Phil. 3.9 in which he saith he would not be found in the Day of Judgment to be justified by in the sight of God There be makes a plain difference betwixt those two Righteousnesses viz. his own which he calls the Righteousness of the Law and that which is through the Faith of Christ which he calls the Righteousness of God 1. Our own Righteousness is within us inhering in our Souls It consists in those Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit of God works in our Minds and we express these outwardly in the observation of the Moral Law in our walkings amongst Men Now that this is properly our own Righteousness though it is effected by the Spirit in us 1. See how the Scripture speaks of it Faith is called your Faith and Love is called your Love Col. 1.4 In Deut. 6.25 It shall be our Righteousness if we keep his Commandments Job 27.6 My Righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go Matth. 5.20 Except your Righteousness exceed c. 2. Our Souls are the Subjects of this Righteousness it is really in our Minds therefore ours 3. We put forth the Actions wherein this Righteousness consists both Internal and External Is it not we that believe and we that repent though the Spirit works Faith in us God is said to work in us to will Phil. 2. yet we will to do yet we act and we perform Are not we said to pray though the Spirit works Prayer in our hearts 4. Was not Adam's grace which was concreated with him properly his own Yes surely Then this is our own Righteousness though wrought in us by the Spirit But that Righteousness of Faith by which we are justified is wholly without us in the Person of Christ It was wrought out Six Hundred Years since And not one Act either of our Bodies or Minds contributes any thing to it our Faith is no part of it only by Faith we receive and view and apprehend that which justifies us And whereas it is said Abraham believed and it was accounted to him for Righteousness Not the Action of bebelieving but that which he rested upon by Faith justified and was his Righteousness One then is Christ's personal Obedience the other is our personal Obedience one that which Christ wrought the other that which we work one is given of God from Heaven and rests upon Faith the other is here upon Earth by Works Our Righteousness is but the Righteousness of meer Man the other the Righteousness of Him that was God as well as Man otherwise we ought not to trust unto it for Cursed is every one that trusteth in the Arm of Flesh One is perfect and compleat the other is faulty imperfect incompleat as to degree 6. This Righteousness thus opened is marvellously well-pleasing to the Father Mat. 3. This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased This is spoke of Christ as Mediator representing all his People the Father looks through Him at all his Members and is well-pleased with them The Father's Love from Christ the Son is diffused to all the Elect this Voice came for our sakes Ephes 5.2 An Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling Savour The Father's Heart is at rest in this it perfumes all the Church with its Odour 2 Cor. 5. ult it is called the Righteousness of God i. e. the Righteousness which he approves highly of because the Righteousness which he in his infinite Wisdom contrived and the Righteousness of his own Son that is of the same Nature with the Father in this our Persons are accepted Ephes 1.6 We are accepted in the Beloved and our Prayers and Works 1 Pet. 2.5 Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ Heb. 11.4 By Faith Abel offered a more acceptable Sacrifice and without this it 's not possible to please God This Righteousness we have to offer to Sinners in the preaching of the Gospel and by preaching it thus we do not make void but establish the Law We see by this how we are saved by the Law viz. Christ keeping it for us by a Covenant of Works Christ being made under the Law He fulfilled it Here is a sweet Harmony between Law and Gospel now they kiss each other in Christ so far from being one against the other The poor heavy laden Soul will thankfully receive this Righteousness and rejoice and glory in it the Sick this Cordial the starved Prodigal this which is Bread indeed But the proud Pharisee the Self-righteous One the rich Justiciary he that is whole The Quaker goes about to make his own Righteousness to stand and will not submit to this but despiseth it and what will be the issue but to wonder and perish Give me leave to say That want of inculcating these things in our Ministry hath been the cause that so many have been led away with the Error of the Quakers and that Professors are not out of danger till they be made more skilful in the Word of Righteousness Who sees not by reading these following Lines but this young Lad may now engage without any peril any Quaker in England in Discourse I likewise humbly entreat that our Brethren would use
say in thine Heart or have such things arise in thee saying Would such pg a Man's House or Lands were mine Or is he in a fair Trade Dost not thou desire or wish in thy Heart That thou couldst get into his Trade or Doth he live bravely in the World Dost not thou desire his Trade that thou mightest live as he Or art not thou ready to envy him because thou canst not do as he doth If there be any such things as these it is not right in the sight of God Hebr. 13.5.1 Tim. 6.8 Art thou a Servant art thou at all times content in thy Heart with thy Wages Doth not something arise in thee to the contrary Luke 3.14 If there be any such things though they are not known to Man yet God knoweth them all and they are enough to bring Man under the Curse Now all these things ought to be done at all times Deut. 18.19 For Christ did that which pleased God always After all these and hundreds more that might be reckoned up if thou canst say thou dost them it will be required whether thou dost them all purely out of Love for whatever is done if it be not in Love to God it availeth not Now if thou keep the Commandments of the Lord and walk in his holy Statutes that thou mightest get into his Love and Favour and that thy Peace might be made thereby and that thou mightest be free from Condemnation Hell Death and eternal Torment I cannot judg it to be purely of Love as though thou waft Free from fear of the Wrath of God to all Eternity For suppose two Men in this Nation should commit Treason ye know the Law is Death but the King thereof being merciful pardoneth the first for ever and solemnly engageth never to punish him according to the Law in token of which he maketh him his Chamberlain or other Officer promoting him to Honour Unto the second he faith I will forgive thee also If thou for the time to come hearken to me and keep all my Statutes thou shalt be advanced to the like Honour but if thou walk in Disobedience to my Will I will assuredly cut thee off Whether of these two judg ye serveth the King purely in love So is it in this Case if thou dost walk in the Commands of God that you mightest be delivered from the Wrath to come it is a slavish thing out of this number did the Lord find Arrows to wound me with I had several Objections which perhaps may be in the Spirits of some I will name some and answer them as I am able Object 1. If I do walk in all things which the Lord hath made known unto me is it not enough Will the Lord punish me for that which I do in Ignorance Answ Art thou ignorant May not I bring thee into the number of those that are willfully ignorant or willingly ignorant seeing the Scripture faith The knowledg of Sin is by the Law Rom. 3.20 7.7 Wherefore had it thou searched the Law and enquired into the Mind and Will of God to the utmost of thy Power mightst not thou have attained to more Knowledg than thou hast done in the Law of God But if thou art ignorant thy Ignorance will not excuse thee For the Lord did institute an Offering for Sin committed in Ignorance which declares He required Satisfaction to be made for all Sin if committed in Ignorance Also he that knew not the Will of his Lord and did things worthy of Stripes is not to be freed Lev. 4.2,3 Luk. 12.48 Sometimes I have had this Objection but am satisfied as followeth Object 2. There are Temptations arising in me to Evil but Christ was tempted and was it not so with him had not he these arising in him Answ No. If those Temptations do proceed from the Lust of the Flesh which the Scripture mentions Jam. 1.14 Rom. 1.27 then had he none For he was in the Form of God thought it not Robbery to be equal with God seeing he was the Son of God he was his righteous Servant the Man his Fellow He was Holy Undefiled knowing no Sin therefore he had no sinful Nature then was there no Temptations no inclinations no desire to Evil in him proceeding from from his Flesh Col. 2.6 Isa 53.11 Zech. 13.7.2 Cor. 5.21 Luke 1.35 But if you say these Temptations and Inclinations proceed from the Devil then had he none for he saith Joh. 14.30 The Prince of this World cometh and bath nothing in me If then he had nothing in him then he had not so much as a place to stir up evil Motions or evil Desires in Him for when he was tempted the Devil spake to him with a Voice as I conceive from those Passages which say he said unto him Mat. 4. Luk. 4. which I do not remember is mentioned on that accompt but in Gen. 3. to them in Paradise Object 3. But this is a Third which lodged long with me The Lord hath commanded Man to walk in his Law to love the Lord his God with all his Heart Soul and Strength and his Neighbour as himself and if it be not attainable wherefore did the Lord command it Answ In these things have I found the Law to be of use 1. By it I was convinced of Sin Spiritual 2. And saw the height and strictness of the Righteousness which the Lord did require for Salvation 3. My failings and inability to keep this Righteousness 4. To humble me and lay me at the Feet of God for Mercy 5. That my proud Spirit might submit unto the Righteousness of a Person acted without me which before would not 6. The Commands of God to Holiness were of use to me when I was stirred up to Ranting to turn the Grace of God into Wantonness and sin that Grace might abound 7. Also when I was falling into Despair of the Grace of God saying Christ died for the remission of Sins committed before he manifested his Love to me but afterwards I must work for Life and Salvation keep all the Commandments of the Lord or else Damnation will be my portion Then it was of use to me to turn me or drive me to the Grace of God because I saw I could not come up to the height of those Commands 8. And is of use to me to this day when I consider the Height and the Depth the length and the Breadth of the Law of our God to cause me to prize the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ in which is Justification Sanctification Redemption to include all sure Salvation being lifted up through Faith in Christ above the Law and the Power of Works Death and Hell that from henceforth we should serve him without fear to the Praise of his Holy Name for ever Amen Having thus run over the Heads of these things it pleased the Lord I should be hamper'd in and according to the knowledg He hath given me I have laid them down if happily they might be of use to others not as though I were able to contend and Answer all Objections that my Adversaries may raise against me having had but a little time in these things And though I am compassed about with troubles yet will I call upon the Lord for Strength to stand up under them For in my Infancy in Christ great was my trouble yet did the Lord bear me up and deliver me which giveth me ground to believe He will yet stand by me and strengthen me and preserve me unto his Heavenly Kingdom Many more things might I reckon up but in those may be seen these two things First The Backwardness of Man the Unwillingness of this Spirit to come unto Christ and submit to his Righteousness Secondly Being come to see this Life and Salvation by the Death of Christ alone how ready is Man to for sake it and join something with it some Works some Duties some-thing which pleaseth Man and eclipses the Glory of Christ then all is well enough Unto this I might reckon up many things but this I say The Light of the Gospel to me for many Months was as the light of a Gloworm by the way-side a small thing ready to be passed by or as a By-way in comparison of the chief Road to the great City the heavenly Jerusalem It was so much against Reason being without the Works of the Law The way of the Gospel is as an unbeaten Path the Lord knows People walk not by Troops in it For the Gospel is too glorious for Man's Reason to comprehend Therefore the Law is embraced and Errours do flow as Water from a Spring but forget not this That by the Will of God ye are sanctified through the Offering of the Body of Jesus once for all He is our Righteousness our Peace our All we are compleat in Him perfected for ever through Faith without the Deeds of the Law this will stand when all the rotten righteousness of Man shall fall Therefore unto the King Everlasting and only Wise God be Glory Honour and Praise for ever and ever W. D. FINIS
The Quaker Converted OR The Experimental Knowledg of Jesus Christ Crucisied In opposition to the Principles of the Quakers declared In a Narrative of the Conversion of one in Hartfordshire who was for some Years of their Faith and Principle and inclined unto them The manner how he was wrought off from them by the Lord. And several dealings of Christ with his Spirit afterwards With some things annexed for detection of their Errors and Delusions and prevention of the growth thereof Written by Himself in his own Words and Phrases Likewise an Epistle Dedicatory by W. HAWORTH Minister of the Gospel at Hartford John 5.39 Search the Scriptures They are they which testify of me Mat. 24.24 For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shew great Signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. John 4.22 Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for Salvation is of the Jews Acts. 2.30 Therefore David being a Prophet and knowing that God bad sworn with an Oath to him that of the Fruit of his Loins according to the Flesh he would raise up Christ to sit on his Throne 31. Spake of the Resurrection of Christ 30. Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ Ch. 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give Repentance to Israel and forgiveness of Sins John 15.26 When the Comforter is come be shall testify of me Ch. 16.14 He shall glorify me for be shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you 1 Joh. 4.2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh is of God Heb. 9.28 Christ was once offered to bear the Sins of many Ch. 10. 12. This MAN after he had offered one Sacrifice for Sins for ever sat down on the right Hand of God Act 13.39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses 〈◊〉 3.28 Therefore we conclude that a Man is justified by Faith without the Deeds of the Law Read likewise Rom. 10.4 Ch. 4.25 2 Cor. 5.21.1 Cor. 1.30 Act. 23.48 London Printed for J. Robinson at the Golden-Lion in Paul's Church-Yard 1690. The Epistle Dedicatory To the Church of Christ at Hartford Well-beloved in the Lord. IN this Relation which follows you may see some of the Quakers rotten Opinions You may remember how joyful we were when the Lord cast this Young-man unexpectedly amongst us how our hearts were refreshed in the speaking forth of these ensuing things And whereas we had mourned that some had gone out from our Meetings to them in this one instance the Lord hath abundantly made it up to us let Christ have the glory None of those that went out from us were properly of us had received the Gospel that we believe No it 's not possible for any to receive it truly and forsake it But this young Man was fully of their Way Spirit Faith and Principle as any may see by reading this little Book Though he made not such an open Profession as others of them yet went farther than most of them towards that which they call Perfection yea he was as Luther said of himself before his Conversion an honest Monk so an honest Quaker true to his perswasion I have thought it meet by the advice of my worthy Brethren in the Ministry to expose this Narrative to the open view although the meanness of the Person 's Education and the little time he hath had for proficiency in the knowledg of the Gospel might discourage in this matter on the one hand yet on the other hand the profit that we hope may be reaped through the Lord's Blessing by many especially at Hartford in the reading of it both as to the reducing some from them and preventing some staggering ones confirming also others in the Faith of the Gospel hath prevailed with me to print it And indeed Instances of this nature are so famous and rare VIZ. For any to be recovered from this Betwitching and this Instance none of the least that I could in Conscience do no other This withal being an experience that the Lord in rich Mercy gave him I hope will take the deeper impression upon the Minds of People For my own part I see such clear distinct sound Gospel knowledg in it that I dare say confidently it is no other than the Finger the eminent Finger of God upon his dear elect Child And the more remarkable is it in that be was a stranger to us all conversed with none of us most of these things were taught him alone in the reading of the Scriptures Flesh and Blood hath not revealed this to thee may we truly say but our Father which is in Heaven the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Mystery of the Father and the Son hath been upon him O that every one of you my dear Brethren and every one in Hartford had the knowledg of Christ thus distinctly formed in you till which thing be the Soul of him to whom Christ hath committed you as his charge shall travail in birth and be in pain Blessing the Lord that his poor Labours have not altogether been in vain as to this matter O that it might please Christ to direct my faithful Brethren in the Ministry in their respective places where they are cast in the Countreys to open and insist more on the great New-Testament fundamental Truths in the Blood of Christ My daily Prayer to Christ is that we all may he made able Ministers of the New-Testament We have but Law and Gospel to preach let us keep them distinctly in their places the Law for the knowledg and conviction of Sin yea of first evil Motions to be sin The Law is spiritual Rom. 7. and requires perfect and perpetual Obedience of every one that will be justified by it and admits of no Repentance at all in case of any failure Now the Law is weak through the flesh Rom. 8. Man is breaking it every moment by his crooked thoughts this would let a Man see his Sins to be mountanous and innumerable and so bring down every high thought and lay him low giving him to see the need of the Righteousness of another not being able to answer the requirements of the Law thus the Law is our Schoolmaster to Christ Then the Gospel the Balm of the Doctrine of the free Justification of a Sinner in the Blood of Christ for the Wound this Oile to be poured into the Gashes of Conscience how would it Heal Settle Confirm Comfort and the Soul thus finding a Saviour and Sweetness in Christ this would be as new Wine and be would soon discern all poisonous drinks Whoever bath tasted that the Lord is Gracious never takes up with the Quakers Christ
lingering Desires to Evil that dwelt in me which would have led me to Evil which Desires I could not be delivered from any manner of Way which was the Cause of my Grief and Sorrow some considerable time until the Lord opened mine Eyes and shewed me Salvation by a Person wholly without me which Person is Jesus Christ whose Righteousness being imputed unto me and accounted as mine own that Righteousness being every way compleat he having fulfilled the Law of God in every respect by submitting unto this and accepting of this as my own I had Peace of Conscience which no otherways I could attain to Now by the light which every Man hath saw I no Beauty in this But by a Light which every Man hath not did I see a Beauty in this From whence I may conclude what that Light which every Man hath is for every Man in Reason seeth not a Beauty in this Righteousness Quest Had I not Joy and Peace and Quietness in my Spirit when I was obedient to that Light in me which reproved me for Sin And doth not the Scripture say The Kingdom of God is Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Wherein do they differ then Answ I had a Joy and a Peace and a Comfort in both states But the Joy of the first was not so great as the Joy of the Second For as Israel was in Egypt under hard tasks Exod. 5. And so long as they fulfilled their Tasks doubtless they had Joy and Peace and Quiet which when they did not fulfil they were beaten But doubtless they had more Joy and Peace when they were brought into Canaan where the Tasks were not laid upon them So was it with me So long as I did obey that which did reprove me for Sin I had peace and quiet judging my Condition happy But I found a greater Joy and Peace when I saw Salvation by the Righteousness of Christ without me being a more compleat and surer Righteousness than that wrought in me being hereby delivered from Fear of Miscarriages to the loss of my Salvation Quest Was there not a Power when I obeyed the Light reproving me for Sin which did deliver me from sinning and gave me Strength to do that which was good and right and just before God and Man and would carry me through Sufferings for it with Peace and Comfort if I submitted unto it according to that passage To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God Answ Yes There was a Power which did deliver me from sinning outwardly or doing any thing to wrong my Neighbour or telling Lies but choosed rather to suffer anger than to do it whereas if I had lied I might have been free from it it bore me up when I was hissed at for what I did to my Face saying These are the things which I must look for it was the portion of Christ when He walked upon the Earth and I must not wonder at it the Scriptuee saith it For it is enough for a Servant to be equal with his Lord But notwithstanding I met with a time when I could not have Peace of Conscience by that Power within me but by the powerful Work of God without me in preparing a Body which was perfectly holy to die for me to bear my Sins in my place in my room to free me from the Curse of the Law imputing his Righteousness unto me To as many as receive this gave he Power to become the Sons of God heing manifest to me in the Spirit at that time I mentioned before working Faith in me which Faith engageth to serve the Lord By this Faith I had Peace of Conscience this was the Power of God unto Salvation to my Soul according as it is written The Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish Foolishness but to them which are saved it is the Power of God 1 Cor. 1.18 Quest Do I despise that Light Knowledg or Conscience which reproveth Man for Sin in him and judg it not to be obeyed Answ No I believe it is the Duty of every one to walk in the Commandments of the Law of God and to keep a Conscience void of Offence according as it is written Holding Faith in a pure Conscience hoping to be found in the same my self Quest For what Ends do I desire to be found in Obedience to this Light Answ Because it is my Duty to God Not for Life but from a Principle of Life not for Salvation but because I have Salvation through Faith in Christ not that my Peace might be made but because my Peace is made already not that I might get into the Love of God but because I am in the Love of God through Faith in Christ who gave himself a Ransom to redeem me from the Curse of the Law He being made a Curse for me Friends To whom these few Lines may be presented written by the Hand of him who is Weak in Knowledg and of low Degree having done this at the request of my worthy Friends who thought it might be of use to those which might be in the like Trouble as I have been After the viewing of this many Censures do I expect perhaps it may be said by most I was no such Person as I have here exprest my self to be which if it be I matter not God knoweth the things I have been led through my Conscience also bearing me Witness to the things I have written and therefore leave it to the Souls in Christ to judg Perhaps it may be further said of me That I have written some things herein out of Envy and Malice To which I answer I have not written any thing herein out of Envy or Malice but for the relief of those that are in trouble if the Lord please to make it instrumental by his Spirit for that end Perhaps it may be said I could not attain to Joy and Peace and Comfort by Obedience to the Light reproving me for Sin seeing I walked not in all things as the Quakers did To which I answer I have seen one of them do that which another of them had not Freedom to do yet I believe he that did it had Peace in what he did because he saw no Evil in it why might not I have Peace and Joy in my Spirit though I did not walk in every Point as they did seeing I did that which I believed was good in the sight of God when I durst not do that which some of them did Perhaps it may be said This is nothing but an invented Story of mine own having picked up bere and there a word by Head-knowledg seeing I was not in open Profession with them which expect Salvation by Obedience to the Light in them To which I say Though I was not in open Profession with them yet was I of the same Faith and fought my Salvation the same way And as to taking hold of Words or inventing Stories I