they were begotten in the New-birth pag. 56. Answ. See how contrary to plain Scriptures he reasons for Christ is called the Seed unto which the Promises are Gal. 3.16 And He is that Word which begets into the New-birth and not the Letter and this Seed is Living and Incorruptible though the Devil steals away the hearts of many from the sense of the the Seed or Word of Life as he hath blinded the minds of Infidels 2 Cor. 4.4 J.N. Ministers are called Angels Rev. 2. yet there is no Man that is an Angel p. 59. Answ. Yes If he be an Embassador Messenger or Minister he is an Angel J.N. Christ cannot dwell in Man for Christ is perfect Man as well as perfect God p. 61. Answ. To say Christ cannot dwell in Man doth not only oppose His Spirituality Deity and OMNIPOTENCY but also is contrary to the Apostles plain Testimonies of Christ's being in the Saints And if He be perfect God he can dwell iâ— His People as He hath promised and suâ—ely His being perfect Man doth not put a limitation upon Him as a let or hinderance to disable Him from being in His People whilst He who was Christ as come in the Flesh was also truly Jesus Christ within in his Spiâ—itual appearance and we do not confine Him under this or that particular Name His Names are divers in Scriptures according to His Manifestations Offices and Works He is called Emmanuel God with us He is called Jesus Christ The Way The Truth The Light The Life The Seed The Son The Everlasting Father The Word The Power of God A Quickning Spirit c. J.N. Christ Jesus after He rose He was still a Body of Flesh Contradiction the God-head took Flesh in the Womb of Mary the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in Flesh c. pag. 52 60 63. Answ. Christ Jesus was more than a body of flesh for he was Spirit as well aâ— flesh He was Lord from Heaven Neither is Man made up simply of a body of Flesh being a complex or composition of parts of Body Soul and Spirit Also there is a manifest inconsistency between these words He was still a body of flesh And He took flesh or was God manifest in flesh J. N's Argument If he rose Jesus Christ then he rose Flesh and Blood and also Man But he arose Jesus Christ. Therefore Flesh and Blood c. And he did ascend with the same body and is still at the right hand of God with a body of flâ—sh c. p. 64 65. Contradiction As we have born the Image of the Earthly-man so we are now to bear the Image of the Heavenly which is Christ Jesus p. 89. Answer Though I grant That Christ arose with the same body that was Crucified and put to Death and that he ascended into Glory even the same Glory which he had with the Father before the World began And that the same that Descended was the same that Ascended far above all Heavens Eph. 4. And as Christ said What and if ye see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before Joh. 6. Yet the Argument is fallaciously and corruptly staâ—ed in the manner of it the Inference of the first Proposition and so the Consequence being inconsequent to it carrying no proof along in it for it still strictly limits or tyes up the Name Jesus Christ to a body of flesh and blood and so covertly denies His being before he took on him that visible body of flesh blood and bones and so opposeth his Divinity as before Whereas He was the Spiritual Rock which all Israel drank of long before And as to His being at the right hand of God I grant according to the Scriptures but cannot believe His body to be a carnal body in Heaven or that He consists of a carnal existence And further these words are not the Scripture language viz. to say That Christ is a body of flesh blood and bones in Heaven and a Personal being at the right hand of God without all Men remote as J. N's terms are But these words Spiritual Body Glorious Boâ—y One Body and One Spirit and that the Saints discerned and eaâ— the Lord's Body were Members of His Body c. And except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood you have no life in you saith Christ These are Scripture terms and language So neither is Chriâ—t nor God's right hand so limitted to a remoatness from them And as we have born the Image of the Earthly-man so we must bear the Image of the Heavenly which is Christ Jesus this is true But the definition that J. N. hath given of Christ Jesus the Heavenly Man is That He is a body of flesh and blood a personal being not in man From whence it follows That this Heavenly Image men must bear or be changed into is a personal Image of flesh blood and bones as if they had not such a body or Image before Whereas the Heavenly man is spiritual and so is His Image And the Apostle distinguisheth between the Natural body and the Spiritual body as he doth between the bodies that are Coelestial and the bodies Terrestrial 1 Cor. 15. And further to take off Objections and Scruples I confess that according to the Flesh Jesus Christ came of the Seed of David and the body that He took upon him or that was prepared for him to do the will of God in upon Earth was a real and not a fantastical body and that according to the flesh He was put to death or died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and rose again the third day and was after seen of the Disciples and of above five hundred Brethren at once and that He was seen of James then of all the Apostles 1 Cor. 15. To which the Apostle Paul adds vers 8. And last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time And how did he appear unto Paul Even by Revelation God revealed his Son in him It was the same Son of God who appeared vaâ—iously both visibly and invisibly after His Resurrection he appeared in various forms and shewed Himself diversly First to Mary Magdalen 2dly to other Women 3dly to the Disciples as they went to Emaus 4thly to James 5thly to Peter 6thly to the Apostles when the Doors were shut 7thly to more than five hundred Brethren as aforesaid after he appeared to Thomas when he said Reach hither thine hands c. Mat. 28. Mark 16. Luke 24. Iohn 20. 1 Cor. 15. Once he said to them Handle Me Luke 24.39 another time to Mary Magdalen when she thought him to be the Gardener Touch Me not Joh. 20.17 And it 's said Luk. 24.30 31. as he sate at meat with them He took bread and blessed and brake it and gave to them and their eyes were open and they knew Him and He vanished out of their sight Now seeing that he appeared so diversly being capable
Excommunication given forth by divers of the principal Baptists about BOW against one that forsook them and their dead wayes wherein the Reader may also take notice of their envy and falshood London the 12th month 1669. CHRIST Ascended above the Clouds c. JOHN NEWMAN's Instance to prove the Scriptures the Word Isa. 28.9 10 11 12 13. The Word of the Lord was to this People Precept upon Precept c. Pag. 6. Answ. Scriptures signifie writings and not the Word neither doth this Instance prove them to be the Word for the Prophets of God who speak as the holy Spirit moved them did both inwardly receive and speak forth Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little from the immediate Spiâ—it and Power of God as immediatly taught by him which is before and above the Scriptures thereof which no where â—ffirm themselves being the writings in an abstract sense to bâ— the Word Also preaching Jesus Christ the Word and the Scriptures aâ—e two things the one being in a living Power and Voice and the other in written Characters Moreover the Lord sendeth out his Word and melteth the Snow the Hoar-frost and Ice Psal. 147.18 Surely this Word is not the Scriptures J.N. There are a People labour to blind this Truth by affirming That Christ is the Word not the Scriptures for they say the Scriptures are the Sayings or Words of God pag. 13. Answ. To affirm Christ to be the Word and not the writings but that in them are the words or sayings of God words of his Covenant c. or that they contain a Declaration of God and Christ is no blinding of Truth but what is â—ffiâ—med in and by the Scriptures themselves and the Word of the Lord came to the Prophets before they spake forth or writ the words see Jer. 1.1 2. The words of Jeremiah to whom the Word of the Lord came J. N's Instance from Mark 4.14 What Word was this that the Devil taketh out of mens hearts None will think it Christ but the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Answ. The Seed sown in the heart by the Son of man hath virtue and life in it in the very being of it for rooting growth and increase of fruit which is more than the writings which no where in Scripture are called the Seed and can he say the Son of man did sow some Scriptures in the High-wayes which the Devil took Also many retain Scripture in the profession of it who notwithstanding are but as the high-way ground unfruitful in whom the Seed of Life doth not take root so that the Devil doth not steal away the Scriptures or Bible from them not properly Christ out of their hearts but he steals away their hearts and minds blinding them from the sense and sight of the vertue life and light of the Seed or Word of Life withiâ— J. N. The Word of God grew and multiplied Acts 19.20 Cannot be understood of Christ a multiplication of Christ p. 17 18. Answ. Can he then think that Bibles grew and multiplied Surely the Word had Life and heavenly Virtue in it that was capable of growth and its multiplying was both in the increase of gifts and adding to the number of them who received it and though Christ be but one yet his Life his living Word and Gifts both grow and increase where he is received J.N. Christ cannot be the Word because Christians may and ought to receive his Word into their hearts Christ is not received into the hearts of men nor in Person dwell in their hearts p. 21. Answ. How grosly Erroniously and Irrationally hath he asserted and reasoned that Christ cannot be the Word because the Word is received into the hearts and how contrary to plain Scripture to say Christ is not received into the hearts see 2 Cor. 13.5 Rom. 8.10 Col. 1.27 Christ in you except you be Reprobates Christ in you the hope of glory c. but that Christ in Person doth not dwell in the hearts who ever affirmed that he doth J. N's Instance from Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it None that will makâ— use of Reason can believe that Christ did intend that Christians should keep himself for every Christian is kept 〈◊〉 and Christ 1 Pet. 1.5 p. 15. Answ. Though Christians be kept by God and Christ it s through Faith and Obedience in the Light whereby they continue in both and retain God in their knowledge holding the Head which is Christ and holding fast the faithful Word keeping the Word of his Patience such keep the Truth all which amounts to the same or is equivolent with keeping Christ the Word the Truth the Life wherein is the Patience of God and Faith of the Elect exercised against all Temptations and Tryals which are not overcome by the writings without whicâ— cannot truly be called the Word of his Patience as J. N. doth without distinction when they express words of his Wrath Judgment and Displeasure against sin and wickedness But the word of Faith Life and Patience in the Soul immediately expresseth the Love and Patience of God and Christ unto it to aâ—m it in times of Afflictions and Tryals and this we are to keep For many both profess and keep Scriptures or Bibles who are out of the Patience of Câ—rist And now I Query What Reason is it this Opposer would have us make use of and what is the ground of it in man for he speaks of carnal Reason which cannot reâ—ch God and also a Reason to be made use of Pag. 64. Surely we cannot look on him to be such a Mastâ—r of Reason as infallibly to distinguish how highly soever he thinks of himself whilst he denies and opposeth the Light within as being but a feigned light John Nâ—wman where 's thy Reason and what and wâ—ence is it We must not take thy carnal dark and prejudiced Conception for Reason nor be swayed thereby when thou art ignorant of the very Grounds and Principles of true Reason and so much opposest plain Scripture which hypocritically thou pretendest for thy only Rule J.N. To deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God is to deny the very fountain and well-spring of comforts to the Soul in Affliction which is brought out of the Promises in the Scriptures to the Soul by the Spirit through Faith p. 44. Answ. How grosly Erroneous is it to deem the Scriptures the very Fountain and Well-spring of comforts and to say that the Spirit brings the Comforts from thence to the Soul whereas God is the Fountain which to say of the Writings is all one and as blasphemous as to say they are God as some of the Ranters have said as once one of them affirmed to me at Emnith near Wisbitch That the Bible which I had in my hand was God but he quickly after came to be distracted 2dly The Spirit and Gift of Christ is as a Well of Living Water in true Believers
and it is the Spirit of Promise the Comforter having the Life of all Gods Promises and Truth of Scriptures in it self from God the Fountain and this Spirit is infinite and so not â—ontained in the Scriptures though it contains the truths that are in the Scriptures of Truth for they came from the Spirit and it opens the understanding in the Scriptures as it 's waited in J.N. His sad Consequences which he thinks do follow the denying the Scriptures to be the Word and Rule proved inconsequent and his great Ignorance therein detected In Answer to his 43 44 45 pages There are no sad Consequences as he asserteth in denying the Scriptures to be the Word and Rule for Salvation And Fiâ—st I doth not take away the ground of Faith for Remission 2dly Nor Assurance for Christ and his Light within is the Ground and Foundation of Faith and Assurance 3dly Nor doth it make void the Exercise of Faith in the precious Promises for the Spirit of Promise both as a Rule manifests the Promises exerciseth Faith in and fulfils them 4thly Nor doth it deny the Comforts of Faith from the Promises the Spirit of Promise being both the Comforter and sheweth us things to come 5thly Nor doth it destroy the support supplies of Grace to the Soul in affliction For these we receive from God in his own Spirit and not from the writings outward 6thly Nor doth it deny the knowledge of Acceptance for that is given to us by the Spirit of God by which we are sealed unto the day of Redemption and know that we are oâ— God and the Mystery of Life and Salvation is revealed unto us by the Spirit 7thly Where the Spirit of Truth and its Light within is obeyed and truly owned to be the Guide and Rule it leaves not men in the dark nor out of the knowledge of God or enjoyment of Life eternal But to deny the Spirit or Ligh◠〈◊〉 Christ to be the Rule for Life and Salvation doth leave 〈…〉 dark void of saving Knowledge and Life J.N. 8thly Without this viz. the Scriptures to be 〈◊〉 c. we know not that there is any God or Christ or Salvation by God in Christ nor by what means it may be obtained all men are left in the dark and no man knoweth how to enjoy Life Eternal pag. 45. Neither do we know what God counteth unclean and what holy And in short without the Scriptures we know not any promise that belongeth to this life or that to come these dreadful conclusions will follow denying the Scripâ—ures to be the Word and Rule to Salvation and it leaves men to walk by fancy and imagination Answ. Poor men you hâ—ve shewn your selves sâ—fficiently herein and what an empty implicit Faith you are in and how void both of the knowledge of God Christ and Salvation you are and how yet in your sins having denied Christ and his Light within to bâ— your Rule Way and Foundation as he is to his followers and so you are walking by your fancies and imaginations wâ—o â—et the Scriptures in the place of Christ as your only and absolute Rule and Ground of your Faith and Knowledge And then if one should ask you How you prove the Scripâ—ures to be true if they must be the absolute and only Rule and none other then you mâ—st prove them by themselves or plead their own authority from an implicit Faith you have of them which is but still an absurd way of reasoning or assaying to convince gain-sayers being but Petitio principii a begging the Question And how would this convince either Papists Turks Jews Infidels or Athiests to tell them our Bible or Scriptures are infallibly true and the only Rule to know there is a God and a Christ and Salvation by him and to know what God counteth unclean and what holy And then what a sad sentence of no less than Condemnation doth this pass upon all People and Nations who have not the Scriptures as being all void of knowledge thâ—t there is either God Christ Salvation good or evil whereas there is a living Evidence throughout the Creation or Works of God therein of the eternal Power or Maker see Psal. 19. Rom. 1. Job 12. and many do know and have known these things written of which concerns Salvatâ—â—â— by the Light of God and Christ in them that never could 〈◊〉 or had the Scriptures outwardly as those Gentiles which 〈◊〉 the Law yet did those things contained in it and shewed 〈◊〉 â—ffects of the Law written in their hearts Rom. 2. though the Scriptures are profitable to the Man of God who hath them being led by his Spirit which opens them J.N. The Eternal Power and Spirit that was in Christ cannot properly be called Christ this Power or Spirit is God and not Christ. Answ. Contrary to plain Scriptures opposing both the Divinity and Deity of Jesus Christ who is both the Power and Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. The second Adam the quickning Spirit ch 15.45 And the Father the Word and Spirit are One 1 Joh. 5.7 J.N. The will and mind of God is contained in the Scriptures in order to mans Salvation p. 49. Answ. The Word contained is erroneously place for the Writings contain only a Declaration of the Mind and VVill of God in order to Salvation God and his Mind Thoughts VVill and Wayes are Infinite and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Him J.N. The Word was in the beginning but Christ was in time not till he had taken Nature upon him and became in the likeness of sinful Man being born of the Virgin Mary Christ was not the Word before Christ was pag. 50 51. Answ. This Assertion opposseth the Deity and Divinity of Jesus Christ and contradicts the faithful Testimonies of the Holy men of God in the Scriptures of Truth For if the Son of God was not the Word nor in the Beginning nor before the Virgin Mary then Jesus Christ was not God but is represented as a finite Creature But the Erroneousness of this is apparent for the Word was with and was God in the beginning by which he created the Heavens and framed the Worlds Joh. 1.1 2 3. Heb. 11.3 And that this Word was Jesus Christ is plain seeing it's expresly said God created all things by Jesus Christ Eph. 3.9 Yea all things visible and invisible were created by him Col. 1. But if Jesus Christ the Son of God was not in being before he took flesh in the womb of the Virgin or was not before Mary how could all things be created by him And Nebuchadnezzar was of a better belief than to think that the Son of God was not in his time for he said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God Dan. 3.25 And was not this before Mary or Christ's outward-birth of her All ye Baptists answer me what Scripture had he
having the immediate evidence of the Spirit in it from God which the Letter or outward writing hath not for it is directed and given to us traditionally though I intend no invalidating of it hereby but do oppose that spirit and doctrine which sets it out of its place that calleth the Letter the Only Rule for Salvation and so leaveth no room for the Immediate Teachings of God's Spirit or Light as the Rule in these days Which is the old defign and work of Antichrist which thou J. N. and others of thy Brethren are carrying on to keep people in blindness in a dark faith under your trâ—ditional teachings who can give no certain demonstration for the ground of your Faith and yet thou hast granted the Spirit to be more vertuous and greater than the Letter p. 112. Enough to confute thy opinion of the Scriptures being the only Rule for now the Spirit is greater But then again thou tellest us The sufficiency of the Saints Rule and Guidâ— standeth in the Spirit and Scripture both For sayest thou they cannot be separated in their Nature Purity c. p. 110. At if thou wouldest not freely grant the Spirit 's sufficiency without the Scriptures or to those that have them not but seemest to limit or tye up the Spirit to the Scripture as being inseparable in their Nature and Purity as if the Nature of the Writing were â—he Nature of the Spirit and equally Pure with it whereas the Spirit cannot be corrupted and its Râ—le is more infallible than the Scriptures according to thy own Confession and also thou hast confessed That in all Dispensations God never left his People without a word of Direction either written or immediately from his own mouth p. 106 110. So that here it appears some had immediate Directions from God who had not the letter and so may many now for ought thou knowest for God is not limitted though thou wouldest limit his Spirit and the Saints to the letter as if none were Saints and Believers but who had the Scriptures Oh! Ignorance and yet thou hast confessed That the Spirit is of more efficacy and greater than the Letter p. 110 112. How then is the Letter the only Rule And I ask Is that Word the Scriptures or Letter which thou sayest Christians are nursed with the sincere Milk of Does Milk flow from Letter or Spirit And is the nourishment of the new-born Babes 1 Pet. 2.2 the Letter Or are none true Babes but who have the Letter What ignorance narrowness and pinching work art thou found in who hast so tyed up all to and in the Letter as Spirit only Rule sincere Milk Well-spring of Comforts c. And yet grants p. 115. That the Spirit is the Key of Divine Knowledge which overthrows thy work about the Scriptures in thy setting them out of their place As also to the Query p. 117. Whether the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures be a sufficient Rule and Guide To this thou answerest viz. Who is so ignorant as to deny the sufficiency of God's Spirit If thou doest not deny it Why doest thou go about to tye up all men to the Worlds end unto the Scriptures as the only Rule when now thou doest not deny the Spirits sufficiency as Rule and Guide nor darest thou assert the Scriptures sufficient without the Spirit though thou grantest That the Spirit is sufficient apart from the Scriptures which thou callest â—â—e Word pag. 118. Then the Scriptures are not the only Rule the Spirit being the Key of divine Knowledge the sufficient Rule above the Scriptures and greater than they As Also in pag. 116. thou confessest That there are secrets and private discoveries that God makes to the Soul by his blessed Spirit which are not manifest to any but to the heart that doth enjoy it These secrets are to those that fear him c. Where note That these secrets and private discoveries are not manifest to all that have the Scriptures but to those that fear God 2d That they are not made manifest or revealed by the Letter or Scripture outward but by the blessed Spirit inward unto the heart and soul that feareth God or hath Communion with him in his own Light Life and Spirit which is greater and above the Letter Again A further Confutation to thy self appeareth pag. 108. where thou grantest in the best sense That the Spirit is the Rule in its own Administration To which I say This still confutes thy work for that Administration is immediately and inwardly received from the Spirit which in the best sense is the Rule and this Spirit being the greatest all wholesome Doctrines Teachings and Directions are contained and summed up in it and so the Scriptures of Truth are not hereby made void though not the only Rule but fulfilled in them who walk after the Spirit or Rule of the New Creature for if you walk in the Spirit then are you not under the Law and they begun well who begun in the Spirit But whereas thou turnest â—ound again tying up the Spirits Rule to this viz. Doctrine and Teaching delivered in words also written in Scriptum est sayest thou As also that the word Regeneration signifies twice born to wit both after the flesh and from a state of sin whereas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to regenerate is to beget again not after the flesh Here Thy Divinity and Scholarship may both go together for where the Rule of the Spirit thou limittest to the Writing how consists this with the Spirits sufficiency to them that have not the Scripture or to its sufficiency apart or alone But 't is no strange thing for thee and such to be found in such manifest self Contradictions However thou wouldst have us take notice that thou art both a Divine and a Scholar And thy saying That Christ cannot be a Rule for any man in his Personal being p. 94. What makes this for thy purpose May it not be here implyed that he hath a spiritual being and that he can be and is a Rule in it to his People as He is their Way to walk in And where hast thou these words Personal being in thy Rule Is the Essence or Being of the Son of God Personal Was not his Being Divine before his Incarnation or Appearance in Person But thou appearest as ignorant both what Essence or Being is and what Person is which are different Again Thou appearest as grosly mistaking the state of the Controversie where thou sayest viz. What if my Spirit lead me to Mahomets Rule Or if my Spirit perswade me to believe the Popes mouth to be infallible c. Now it is not thy Spirit that may thus egregiously mislead thee that we are pleading for the Rule of but it is the infallible Spirit of Truth which gave forth the Scriptures neither is thy Assertions concerning the Scriptures any valid Plea or Argument to convince either Turks or Papists who are both out of the Truth and the Spirit
were given forth the Commands are called words that God spake Is not there a manifest difference between the Word that made all things and the words spoken or writ As also between the Ministry of the Word which is the preaching Jesus Christ and the Writings of the Two Testaments which this ignorant man makes no distinction between for was not the Apostle Paul a Minister of the Word though not of the Letter Did not he distinguish between them which this confused Opposer hath not done J. N's Contrad The Scriptures in which is contained the will of God in order to man's Salvation is properly and principally called the Word and not Christ. There are a People labour to blind this truth by affirming that Christ is the Word of God and not the Scriptures for they say The Scriptures are the Sayings or the Words of God Christ cannot be understood to be the Word of God whereas some do affirm Christ to be the VVord of God Such an Assertion would make Christ a Monster rather than a compleat God and Man c. p. 12 13 15 17 17 49. I shall freely grant That Christ is called by this Name the Word of God Christ being the Word of God Christ may be said to be in men He may be called the Word of God because he will be that dreadful Executioner By the Word of God's Eternal Power c. He shall by by the Word of God slay all his enemies in this he may be truly called the Word of God p. 14 46 47. Animad Thou art a blind Opposer who perverts and darkens Truth with thy monstrous prejudice who denies Christ to be the Word of God and blasphemously sayest Such an Assertion would make Christ a Monster c. Yet for all this thou shalt freely grant Christ to be called the VVord yea the VVord of God's Eternal Power doest thou herein make him a Monster And did not the holy Men of God call him the Word And did they blind the Truth or make a Monster of Christ supposest thou Must we reject their Testimonies as improper and monstrous and believe thine as only proper which is so repugnant to the Scriptures which are the Writings that do contain sayings or words of God which to affirm is no blinding of truth And where provest thou these words in the Scriptures That the will of God is contained in them Is not the will of God Infinite and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain God So take thy Contradictions back again viz. That to affirm Christ to be the Word of God is to make him a Monster yet I shall freely grant Christ is called the Word of God the Word of God's Eternal Power J. N's Contrad The Scriptures properly and principally called the VVord The Word of God therein contained Or the Teachings therein contained The Will and Mind of God contained in the Scriptures p. 19 45 49. Animad See the Contradiction and falshood of these for one while to say the Scriptures are the VVord another while they contain the Word and Mind of God these are different and thou mightest as well say that God is contained in the Scriptures as to say the Word and his Mind and Will is and so grosly go to circumscribe and limit him who is Infinite and unlimitable who is the Eternal Word Mark also how J. N. his Doctrine of the Scriptures being principally called the VVord is absolutely confuted by himself in what follows J. N's Contrad How was Heaven and Earth and the VVorld made by the VVord of God and also by the same VVord are kept in store p. 48. The wicked shall be destroyed by this VVord The Rod of his mouth Isa. 11.11 The Spirit of his mouth Rev. 2.12 The sharp Sword with two edges The word of God's Grace in convincing and converting of Souls quick and powerful sharper than a two edged Sword In this sense Christ may be called the VVord Animad But surely the Scriptures are not all this nor ever had this sense given of them that is here given of the Word which made Heaven and Earth and keeps them in store and this did not the Scriptures J. N's Contrad The Scriptures principally called the VVord of God may be corrupted by man This Word may be and is corâ—upted by man c. p. 19 20. Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever p. 57 c. Contradiction again This maketh nothing to prove this word here to be Christ. Animad The Incorruptible Seed or Word by which we are born again is not the Scriptures which have been corrupted by such Perverters and Corrupters of them as thou art who goes to set them in Christ's place and yet Hypocrite like art not willing to keep to the language and terms or Doctrines of them J. N's Contrad The Scripâ—ures are an absolute perfect Rule for all men c. unto the end of the world Faith is bâ—gotten by Preaching the VVord with the work of his blessed Spirit Christ the Way to bring us to Life c. pag. 42 43 50. Animad The Spirit of Truth leads into all Truth therefore this Spirit or Christ within is both the Guide Way and Rule to all that are Spirtiually minded All men have not the Scriptures to the World's end but Christ is given both for a Covenant and Light for Salvation to the ends of the Earth J. N. his Idolatry in exalting the Scriptures into the place of Christ. The Scriptures the enlightening way of the Lord The perfect way of God A Light unto his paths p. 4 5. The Gospel The Seed in the hearts The will of God in order to Salvation pag. 11 17 20. Eternal Life therein viz. in Scriptures pag. 24. The Scripture's an absolute perfect Rule in order to man's Salvation for all men to walk by and none other pag. 24 25 26 27 28 29. The Scriptures may be corrupted by man False Teachers corrupted the Scriptures The Scriptures may and is corrupted by man p. 19 20. The Devil taketh out of mens hearts the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Animad To the first part these are high Names put upon the Scriptures but not so proved thereby For the Enlightening perfect Way and Word of the Lord God the Gospel the Seed the Will of God Eternal Life c. were before the Scriptures were written and did preceed the writing thereof it them who spake or writ them as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and Eternal Life is in Christ not contained in the Scriptures as the unbelieving Jews vainly thought Joh. 5. who set up the Scriptures above Christ the Life And the Scriptures are not the absolute sole Rule for Salvation and none other especially if they be corrupted by the Devil and Wicked men But the Rule of the spiritual mind is spiritual of that Spirit which leads the true Believers into all truth For that which must be owned
for the Rule of Faith Life and Salvation must likewise be infallible pure and incorruptible Christ being the Author of the holy Faith and his Light the Rule of the right Understanding Conviction and Perswasion and consequently of the Belief J. N's Contrad The Gospel which was preached unto every Creature under Heaven was the Scriptures of the New Testament The Everlasting Gospel The general ground of Faith and Assurance Now to deny the Scriptures to be the Word is to deny the very Fountain and Well-spring of Comforts to the Soul in Afflictions pag. 12 35 42 44. The Scriptures is corrupted by man Prayer and Supplication to God by his Spirit by Faith in Christ God approveth Christ saith Ye will not come to me that ye may have Life pag. 20 24 44. Animad Both many Creatures and the Gospel were before the Scriptures were written and the Light of the Gospel is more general to ground Faith upon than the Scriptures and it is the Light of the Power or Gospel of God in the hearts And the Gospel is preached in every Creature under Heaven And eternal Life is in Christ the Incorruptible Seed the VVord Spirit Life and Light And God is the very Fountain whose fulness is in Christ and the Well-spring of Comforts to the Soul not the Scriptures This Opposer might as well say the Scriptures are God as the very fountain and well-spring of Comforts And those Unbelievers that thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures were like J. N. and his Brethren who will not come to Christ that they might have Life And if we must Pray and Supplicate God by the Spirit then the immediate guidance of the Spirit of God must be to us a Rule therein not the Letter J. N's Contrad The Scriptures are a perfect absolute Rule in order to man's Salvation for all men to walk by and none other For the sons of men to walk by unto the ends of the world pag. 32 33 34 35. A Second Covenant of his VVill he foretold Jer. 31. is still in force for all men to walk by and none other The Second Covenant was confirmed by the Blood of that spotless Lamb c. The Second Covenant of God's Will in order to man's Salvation was confirmed by the Death of his only begotten Son pag. 27 28. Animad If the second Covenant or new Testament may be the perfect Rule for all men to walk by and none other as is confest then must the immediate Teachings of God in his Spirit be followed and obeyed as the perfect Rule for the New Covenant-way is spiritual to wit the Law and Spirit of God in the inward parts and this is above the Writings or Letter outward which many in remote parts of the world have not Many have not the Bible who have a spiritual Light or Law of God within as the Gentiles had Rom. 2. And Paul was not a Minister of the Letter but of the Spirit wherefore thou that sayest the Scriptures are the absolute Rule for Salvation for all men to the worlds end when many of whom have them not therein thou hast shut out the spiritual Rule of the New Covenant and art one of them that tread the blood of Christ under foot by which the second Covenant was confirmed and ratified And why hast thou such hard thoughts of God as to think thaâ— all Nations that have not the Scriptures outwardly are deprived of Salvation for want of them But in plain Contradiction to thy self The second Covenant is a perfect Rule still in force for all men to walk by and no other J. N's Contrad The Scriptures of the New Testament so confirmed are a perfect Rule for all men to walk by and none other p. 29. The New-Testament Letter is to be our Rule pag. 103. In the second Covenant of his VVill in order to man's Salvation there is the Man Christ Jesus at the right hand of God c. In his second Covenant he hath promised himself to be â—he God of his People 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. pag. 29 30. Animad The Scriptures Writings or Letter outward whether of the Old or New Testament And the second Covenant which is spiritual and inward are two distinct things In this second Covenant God is the Teacher of his People himself immediately by his immediate Spirit Power or Unction within which teacheth the spiritual minds of all things which is true and no lye And what Scripture have Baptists for saying that the New-Testament Letter is to be our Rule Let them produce plain Scripture proof for their Assertion herein or else confess their error For Paâ—l expresly testified that God had made them able Ministers of the New-Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit c. 2 Cor. 3. He doth not say they were Ministers of the Letter of the New-Testâ—ment his words will bear no such meaning for he plainly distinguisheth between the New-Testament and the Letter as he doth between Spirit and Letter Many both Priests and Baptists have and preach from that he calleth the Letter of the New-Testament who never knew the Spirit in its living ministration although the Scriptures testifie thereto J. N's Contrad The Scriptures are a perfect Rule in order to Salvation for all men unto the end of the world The very fountain and well-spring of Comforts to the Soul pag. 44. Act. 3.23 It is said A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren saith Moses like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you observe that Him shall you hear c. In the second Covenant Salvation and Eternal Life to those that obey the same in his Son Christ a way to bring us to Life pag. 23 31 39 40 50. Animad See how manifestly this Opposer hath in these passages broke the neck of his own Cause For if the Son of God must be heard in all things and he the way to Life and Salvation be in him as confest then the Scriptures are not the fountain and well-spring of Comforts God is the Fountain not the Scriptures as most ignorantly and blasphemously is assetted of them Also note how J. N. hath totally confuted and destroyed his Cause of the Scriptures being the only Rule in what follows J. N's Contrad Abel Enoch Abraham Isaac Jacob Noah and the rest of the Holy Men before Moses day I grant they had a sufficient Rule before the Scriptures were written They had a more infallible Word to walk by viz. from God's own mouth than is now to us for it 's possible that some Scriptures might be corrupted This may be granted in the bâ—st sense that the Spirit is the Rule The Spirit is of more efficacy than the Letter I shall freely grant that the Spirit is greater than the Letter c. pag. 104 106 108 110 112. Animad Here 's enough granted to make void all the Baptists work for the Scriptures being the only Rule